[GovTech] Officials in the state have threatened to withdraw from the multistate Electronic Registration Information Center IF the group fails to agree this week on reforms to address concerns that it leans too far left. About 30 states and the District of Columbia are members of ERIC. Since its inception in 2012, the nonprofit has cross-matched states’ voter records, motor vehicle data, death certificates and other information to help member states purge millions of ineligible voters from rolls. It has also identified millions more who were eligible to vote but not yet registered.
Up until last year, the group, the only one of its kind in the country, enjoyed bipartisan praise from secretaries of state nationwide. But that changed late last year when some far-right Republicans began floating concerns about the group’s funding and purpose.
Among the complaints of some member states, including Texas, is a requirement that they notify eligible but unregistered voters of their ability to register.
| The concern being that ERIC has been primarily or only contacting potential Democratic voters, not Independents or Republicans. |
So far this year, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Missouri and West Virginia have announced plans to withdraw from ERIC. And some big states, such as California and New York, aren’t members.
Related:
Electronic Registration Information Center: 2021-08-11 Swing-state Wisconsin removes 205,000 voters from the rolls
Electronic Registration Information Center: 2021-06-21 Georgia plans to remove 100,000 'outdated' names from voter rolls
Electronic Registration Information Center: 2021-04-10 Pennsylvania Agrees to Remove Names of Dead Citizens From Voter Rolls: Settlement
Electronic Registration Information Center: 2021-08-11 Swing-state Wisconsin removes 205,000 voters from the rolls
Electronic Registration Information Center: 2021-06-21 Georgia plans to remove 100,000 'outdated' names from voter rolls
Electronic Registration Information Center: 2021-04-10 Pennsylvania Agrees to Remove Names of Dead Citizens From Voter Rolls: Settlement