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Federal policy on voting issues, 2017-2018

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On May 11, 2017, President Donald Trump established the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity. According to a White House press release, the commission was created to “study vulnerabilities in voting systems used for federal elections that could lead to improper voter registrations, improper voting, fraudulent voter registrations, and fraudulent voting.” It was also created to “study concerns about voter suppression, as well as other voting irregularities” by utilizing “all available data, including state and federal databases.”[1][2]

According to the Chicago Tribune, at least nine lawsuits were filed against the commission seeking to make their processes more transparent and prevent the federal government from accessing states' voter data.[3]

The commission was dissolved on January 3, 2018. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders explained the decision to dissolve the commission in the following statement: "Despite substantial evidence of voter fraud, many states have refused to provide the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity with basic information relevant to its inquiry. Rather than engage in endless legal battles at taxpayer expense, today President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order to dissolve the Commission, and he has asked the Department of Homeland Security to review its initial findings and determine next courses of action."[4]

After the commission was dissolved, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement, "The commission never had anything to do with election integrity. It was instead a front to suppress the vote, perpetrate dangerous and baseless claims, and was ridiculed from one end of the country to the other. This shows that ill-founded proposals that just appeal to a narrow group of people won't work, and we hope they'll learn this lesson elsewhere."[3]

The commission was created in response to Trump's claim that 3 to 5 million ballots were illegally cast in 2016 presidential election, although he did not provide evidence to support the claim.[5]

This page tracked major events and policy positions of the Trump administration and the 115th United States Congress on voting from 2017 and 2018. This page was updated through 2018. Think something is missing? Please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Click on the timeline below to learn more about each headline.

September 12, 2018: Trump signs executive order on election interference

On September 12, 2018, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that allowed sanctions to be placed on individuals and entities who interfere with U.S. elections. Under the order, the director of national intelligence is responsible for investigating allegations of interference. The Departments of Justice and of Homeland Security are then responsible for imposing sanctions if necessary. Sanctions could include cutting off access to the U.S. financial system, denial of entrance into the country, and the freezing of assets, among other things. [6]

“By signing this Executive Order, I am adding to my record of implementing the strongest measures to date of any United States President to protect our electoral system. As we enter election season this fall, the American people can rest assured that we are working diligently to ensure that our democracy remains secure from foreign threats,” Trump said in a statement.[7]

In a joint statement, Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who proposed legislation to prevent election interference, criticized the order for not doing enough to prevent and punish election meddling by foreign actors. They said, “Today’s announcement by the administration recognizes the threat, but does not go far enough to address it. Mandatory sanctions on anyone who attacks our electoral systems serve as the best deterrent, which is the central tenet of the bipartisan Deter Act.”[8]

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, praised the order, saying it “sends a clear message that America can and will respond swiftly and decisively to Russia, Iran and any others who seek to undermine our free, fair and open elections.”[8]

August 7, 2017: DOJ files amicus brief in support of purging infrequent voters from voter rolls

On August 7, 2017, the Justice Department filed an amicus brief in Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute, supporting Ohio's policy of purging voters who had not cast a ballot in six or more years from registration rolls. The Sixth Circuit ruled in 2016 that this policy violated the 1993 National Voter Registration Act, and the case was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.[9]

The U.S. Supreme Court decided on June 11, 2018, that Ohio's list does not violate the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) or the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA).[10]

May 11, 2017: Trump signs executive order establishing Election Integrity Commission

See also: State government responses to the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity

On May 11, 2017, President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity and announcing Vice President Mike Pence as the commission's chairman. The order established the following purpose for the committee:[2]

“ The Commission shall, consistent with applicable law, study the registration and voting processes used in Federal elections. The Commission shall be solely advisory and shall submit a report to the President that identifies the following:

(a) those laws, rules, policies, activities, strategies, and practices that enhance the American people's confidence in the integrity of the voting processes used in Federal elections;

(b) those laws, rules, policies, activities, strategies, and practices that undermine the American people's confidence in the integrity of the voting processes used in Federal elections; and

(c) those vulnerabilities in voting systems and practices used for Federal elections that could lead to improper voter registrations and improper voting, including fraudulent voter registrations and fraudulent voting. [11]

”

The same day he signed the order, Trump appointed Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R) as the commission's co-chair.[12]

June 28, 2017: Commission requests for voter information

On June 28, 2017, the commission requested that all 50 states and Washington, D.C., provide the commission with voter information. According to Business Insider, the commission asked states for "registered voters' names, addresses, dates of birth, partial social security numbers, political party, a decade's worth of voter history, information on felony convictions, and whether they have registered in more than one state."[13] A second request for information was submitted on July 26, 2017.[14]

State responses to Election Integrity Commission data requests

Map: First request

Details on state responses

State responses to Election Integrity Commission data request, June 2017
State Response
(first request) 		Details
(first request) 		Source
(first request) 		Response
(second request) 		Details
(second request) 		Source
(second request) 		Partisan affiliation of secretary of state
Alabama Will provide public information According to a press release from Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill, "The information that has been requested by the commission, which is already publicly available for purchase from the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office, will be used to improve voter roll integrity. The Secretary of State’s Office will comply with the request if we are convinced that the overall effort will produce the necessary results to accomplish the Commission’s stated goal without compromising the integrity of the voter rolls and the elections process in Alabama." Press release Will provide public information "Secretary of State John Merrill, a Republican, said the commission can buy the information at a cost of more than $32,000. And it will exclude information such as Social Security and driver’s license numbers." The Washington Post Ends.png Republican
Alaska Will provide public information "Alaska Elections Director Josie Bahnke, who works under Democratic Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott, said Friday that her division expects to comply with the request. The state will retain data that is confidential under state law, such as the last four digits of voters' Social Security numbers and birth dates," according to Alaska Dispatch News. Alaska Dispatch News Will provide public information "Division of Elections Director Josie Bahnke says she will respond to the request as she would to any request for voter information. Some information, she said, can be provided, like voter names, voting histories and party affiliations. But other information is considered confidential and would not be provided." The Washington Post N/A[15]
Arizona Will provide public information In a statement, Arizona Secretary of State Michele Reagan said, "Arizona will not provide the personal identifying information of Arizona's voters to the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity. We will only make available the same redacted information that is available to the general public through a public records request. Social security numbers, Date of Birth and identifying information such as Mother’s maiden name will not be transmitted." Press release Request under review Arizona Secretary of State Michele Reagan announced through a spokesman that the commission's request for information was under review. AZ Family.com Ends.png Republican
Arkansas Will provide public information On July 5, 2017, Arkansas Secretary of State Mark Martin announced that his office would provide the Commission with publicly-available information, but would not supply confidential information such as Social Security numbers. U.S. News and World Report Will provide public information Arkansas Secretary of State Mark Martin submitted publicly-available information to the commission on July 29, 2017. Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Ends.png Republican
California Will not comply California Secretary of State Alex Padilla said in a statement, "I will not provide sensitive voter information to a commission that has already inaccurately passed judgment that millions of Californians voted illegally. California's participation would only serve to legitimize the false and already debunked claims of massive voter fraud made by the President, the Vice President, and Mr. Kobach." Los Angeles Times Will not comply California Secretary of State Alex Padilla confirmed on July 25 that he had no intention of complying with the second round of requests: "A majority of states led by Republican and Democratic secretaries of state, have refused to comply outright with the request or only agreed to send some information. At the last meeting of the National Association of Secretaries of State, secretaries unanimously approved a resolution reaffirming states’ rights to protect the integrity of our elections, including the secrecy of the ballot, security and personal information included in our voter rolls." YubaNet.com Electiondot.png Democratic
Colorado Will provide public information Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams said, "My office is going to protect the confidentiality of things that are confidential under state law." CBS Denver Will provide public information Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams confirmed that the requested information that was publicly available would be submitted to the commission by the end of the day on July 31. Coloradoan Ends.png Republican
Connecticut Will provide public information Connecticut Secretary of State Denise Merrill said, "In the spirit of transparency we intend to share publicly-available information with the Kobach Commission while ensuring that the privacy of voters is honored by withholding protected data." Press release Response unknown N/A N/A Electiondot.png Democratic
Delaware Will not comply Delaware Secretary of State Jeffrey W. Bullock said the state "would not be part of any effort to turn back the clock on the progress we have made." Business Insider Will not comply "After being inundated with calls from concerned citizens and meeting with her deputy attorney general, Delaware’s election commissioner said she will not provide the requested information. She also said she is drafting a policy stating that voter registration data, which is now available to anyone, will be made available only to candidates and political parties and only for political use, not for commercial purposes. She plans to follow up in January with legislation codifying the new policy." The Washington Post Electiondot.png Democratic
Florida Will provide public information On July 6, Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner announced that his office would furnish the Commission with publicly-available information only: "Driver’s license information and social security numbers are not, and cannot be provided under section 97.0585. We will also not release any information that is exempt or confidential under Florida law." CBS 12 Will provide public information Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner agreed to provide publicly-available information to the commission on July 28, 2017. Miami Herald Ends.png Republican
Georgia Will provide public information Georgia will not provide "information considered private under state law such as registered voters’ driver’s license numbers or Social Security numbers," according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Atlanta Journal Constitution Will provide public information The secretary of state's office announced that it would be willing to comply with the second request, but required payment of the standard $250 fee. The Associated Press Ends.png Republican
Hawaii Has not received request As of June 30, The New York Times reported that Hawaii had not received the request. The New York Times Will provide public information "State elections officials in Hawaii said the issue was up to clerks of the state’s four counties, which maintain voter registries. The clerks said in August that they would comply with the request. But they said that all they could legally provide was the voter’s name, precinct and whether they voted in the last two elections. Party membership isn’t recorded on the rolls. Instead, that information is held by the parties themselves." The Washington Post N/A[16]
Idaho Will provide public information On July 3, 2017, Idaho Secretary of State Lawerence Denney responded to the request in a press release, saying, "We are interpreting this as a public records request from the Commission. As such, Idaho law requires me to respond ONLY with the non-exempt public records available under the request." Press release Will provide public information "Denney said if no legal action prevents him from doing so, he plans to send the commission the standard request form for public information from Idaho’s voter roll, along with a bill for $20, the standard fee. 'If we do get that, I think we have to comply,' Denney said." The Spokesman-Review Ends.png Republican
Illinois Request under review In a July 5 interview, Illinois Board of Elections General Counsel Ken Menzel confirmed that his office had received the request, but added that it would need to be reviewed by the full Board, whose next meeting is scheduled for August 22. Crain's Chicago Business Request under review The Illinois Board of Elections responded to the second request with an inquiry about the purpose of the Commission and its security procedures. The Chicago Tribune Electiondot.png Democratic[17]
Indiana Will provide public information Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson said, "Indiana law doesn’t permit the Secretary of State to provide the personal information requested by Secretary Kobach. Under Indiana public records laws, certain voter info is available to the public, the media, and any other person who requested the information for non-commercial purposes. The information publicly available is name, address, and congressional district assignment." Press Release Request under review In an August 4 interview, Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson stated that the commission's second request remained under review: "We have not given the commission anything to date...In the letter Kobach sent on behalf of himself as a commission member, he asked for any data that was publicly available, including dates of birth, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers if they were publicly available. Indiana and I, as secretary of state, cannot release dates of birth, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers. I can’t do it." Rushville Republican Ends.png Republican
Iowa Will provide public information Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said the state would provide information if allowed by state law. He added, "However, providing personal voter information, such as Social Security numbers, is forbidden under Iowa Code." The Gazette Will provide public information In an August 3 editorial, Pate confirmed that publicly-available information would be shared with the commission: "Finally, I need to address the request for information I received from the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity. If my office receives a request that complies with state law, the Iowa Code requires us to provide the requested information. That request must be treated like the hundreds of other list requests received every year and will not compromise personal information." Quad-City Times Ends.png Republican
Kansas Will provide public information Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach partially denied his own request, saying Social Security numbers were not publicly available in Kansas. He said, "In Kansas, the Social Security number is not publicly available. … Every state receives the same letter, but we’re not asking for it if it’s not publicly available. If the commission decides that they would like to receive Social Security numbers to a secure site in order to remove false positives, then we would have to double check and make sure Kansas law permits." Kansas City Star Will provide public information "Secretary of State Kris Kobach, a Republican, is vice chairman of the commission, but even his office does not plan to provide the last four digits of Social Security numbers because that’s not publicly available under Kansas law, spokeswoman Samantha Poetter said. All information that is publicly available will be provided." The Washington Post Ends.png Republican
Kentucky Will not comply Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes said in a statement, "As the Commonwealth's Secretary of State and chief election official, I do not intend to release Kentuckians' sensitive personal data to the federal government." Press release Will not comply In a July 27, 2017, statement, Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes confirmed that she would not comply with the second request: "The compilation of every American voter’s information would build a national voter registration database, which is unnecessary to improving our elections, opposite our constitution and state’s rights, and puts voters’ privacy and personal data at risk." Lexington Herald-Leader Electiondot.png Democratic
Louisiana Will not comply On July 3, Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler announced that Louisiana would not comply with the commission's request, stating that "The President’s Commission has quickly politicized its work by asking states for an incredible amount of voter data that I have, time and time again, refused to release...My response to the Commission is, you're not going to play politics with Louisiana’s voter data, and if you are, then you can purchase the limited public information available by law, to any candidate running for office. That’s it." The Baton Rouge Advocate Will provide public information "Secretary of State Tom Schedler, a Republican, won’t provide personal voter information, like Social Security numbers or birth dates. He says the commission can have the information that is publicly available — but only if the commission buys it like anyone else. Schedler calls the effort a politically motivated federal overreach." The Washington Post Ends.png Republican
Maine Will not comply On June 30, 2017, Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap said he would not comply with the commission's request and that "Maine citizens can be confident that our office will not release any data that is protected under Maine law to the commission or any other requesting entity." Portland Press Herald Will not comply Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap confirmed on August 1 that he would not comply with the second request. WMTW] Electiondot.png Democratic
Maryland Will not comply On July 3, 2017, Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh said in a statement, "The assistant attorneys general representing the State Board of Elections have considered the request to the Board for the personal information of millions of voters and have determined that the requested disclosure is prohibited by law. I find this request for the personal information of millions of Marylanders repugnant; it appears designed only to intimidate voters and to indulge President Trump's fantasy that he won the popular vote." The Baltimore Sun Response unknown N/A The Washington Post Ends.png Republican
Massachusetts Will not comply On June 30, 2017, Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin said his office "will not be providing any voter information to the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity." The Boston Globe Will not comply "A spokesman for Secretary of State William Galvin, a Democrat, said the state’s voter registry is not a public record and information in it will not be shared with the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity." N/A Electiondot.png Democratic
Michigan Will provide public information On July 3, Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced that she would provide the commission only with publicly-available information after payment of the standard $23 fee. Her office added that "Michigan will certainly not go beyond what is legally required." Detroit Free Press Will provide public information "A spokesman for Republican Secretary of State Ruth Johnson said the department will provide publicly available information but would exclude data including Social Security and driver’s license numbers and full dates of birth. Fred Woodhams also said the commission would have to make a freedom of information request and pay $23 to get the data." The Washington Post Ends.png Republican
Minnesota Will not comply On June 30, 2017, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said, "When Minnesotans registered to vote, they didn’t ever think their personal information would end up in some federal database in Washington, D.C." Minneapolis Star Tribune Will not comply "Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, a Democrat, announced he would not share the data with Trump’s commission." The Washington Post Electiondot.png Democratic
Mississippi Will not comply Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said the state would not comply on June 30, 2017: "They can go jump in the Gulf of Mexico and Mississippi is a great state to launch from. Mississippi residents should celebrate Independence Day and our state’s right to protect the privacy of our citizens by conducting our own electoral processes." Mississippi Today Response unknown N/A N/A Ends.png Republican
Missouri Will provide public information Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft indicated the state would "offer our support in the collective effort to enhance the American people's confidence in the integrity of the system." A spokeswoman later clarified that his would only be publicly available information. The New York Times Will provide public information "Ashcroft’s spokeswoman, Maura Browning, said the state is only providing publicly available information. She said that means no Social Security numbers, no political affiliations and no details on how people voted." The Durango Herald Ends.png Republican
Montana Will provide public information On June 30, 2017, Montana elections and voter services director Derek Oestreicher said the state had not received the request. He added, "Our office will not release any personal or confidential information." Helena Independent Record Will provide public information "Derek Oestreicher, the director of elections and voter services, said the secretary of state’s office will not release personal or confidential information such as Social Security numbers and birth dates. Information already available publicly in the state’s voter file includes a voter’s name, registration status, voting status and the reason the voter is designated as active or inactive. Voter information does not include party affiliation because Montana has an open primary system and voters do not register under any specific party." The Durango Herald Ends.png Republican
Nebraska Will provide public information Nebraska Secretary of State John Gale announced on July 6 that "with assurance that this request meets compliance with Nebraska law and that these additional concerns are addressed, I will comply with the commission’s request for publicly available information." 10 11 News Request under review In a September 19, 2017, letter to Vice-Chair Kobach, Nebraska Secretary of State John Gale requested additional information about how the provided information would be used, stored, and destroyed, adding that he would share publicly-available information if the response was satisfactory. Nebraska TV] Ends.png Republican
Nevada Will provide public information In a press release on June 30, 2017, Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske said, "While this request has understandably raised concerns with privacy advocates, voter registration information in Nevada is generally available for public inspection under state law, including name, address, date of birth, and whether the voter participated in a prior election." Her statement specified that Social Security numbers, driver license numbers, email addresses, and DMV identification card numbers were not publicly available information and would not be released. Press release Will provide public information "Republican Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske says her office has not changed its position in the wake of the renewed commission request. It will provide public information but not data kept confidential under state law such as Social Security numbers or how people voted. The state will turn over voter names, addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, party affiliation and turnout." The Durango Herald Ends.png Republican
New Hampshire Will provide public information On June 30, 2017, New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner said the state would comply: "There’s no information (here) someone can’t publicly get anyway. People have the right to purchase it, only what’s public by law." Concord Monitor Will provide public information A lawsuit challenging the decision made by Secretary Gardner to respond to the initial request resulted in a compromise. Although New Hampshire sent voter rolls containing publicly-available information to the Commission on August 7, 2017, it sent the information in the form of an unsearchable scanned image. Seacoast Online Electiondot.png Democratic
New Jersey Will provide public information On July 5, 2017, New Jersey Director of Elections Robert Giles announced that "no information has been released nor will any information be released that is not publicly available or does not follow the appropriate legal process for information requests." NJ.com Will provide public information On August 18, 2017, New Jersey Director of Elections Robert Giles announced that the state would send the Commission most of the requested information, but could not legally provide it with the last four digits of voters' Social Security numbers. U.S. News Ends.png Republican[18]
New Mexico Will not comply On June 30, 2017, The New York Times reported that New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver would not comply with the request. The New York Times Will not comply "Democratic Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse-Oliver has reaffirmed that she will never release personally identifiable information for New Mexico voters that is protected by law, including Social Security numbers and dates of birth. She says that sharing that information with the commission may discourage people from registering to vote. She has declined to provide information such as names and voting histories unless she is convinced the information is secure and will not be used for 'nefarious or unlawful purposes.'" The Durango Herald Electiondot.png Democratic
New York Will not comply On June 30, 2017, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said, "New York refuses to perpetuate the myth voter fraud played a role in our election. We will not be complying with this request and I encourage the Election Commission to work on issues of vital importance to voters, including ballot access, rather than focus on debunked theories of voter fraud." New York Daily News Will provide public information On August 2, 2017, the New York Division of Elections announced that it would supply the Commission with publicly available information. Press Connects Electiondot.png Democratic[19]
North Carolina Will provide public information On June 30, 2017, the North Carolina Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement released a statement saying they would provide publicly available data permitted under state law. This data did not include Social Security numbers, dates of birth, or driver license numbers. Press release Will provide public information "North Carolina’s elections board is providing data requested by Trump’s commission investigating alleged voter fraud. But the records will not include personal information deemed confidential in law, including dates of birth and Social Security numbers." The Durango Herald Electiondot.png Democratic[20]
North Dakota Will not comply On June 30, 2017, Deputy Secretary of State Jim Silrum said the state had received the request but that state law did not appear to allow sharing of the requested data. North Dakota does not have voter registration but maintains a Central Voter File. Silrum told The Bismarck Tribune, "As the request in the letter is worded, it does not appear that ND law will allow us to provide information from the CVF." Bismarck Tribune Will not comply "Secretary of State Al Jaeger notified the commission in September that North Dakota will not release the information. Jaeger noted that North Dakota does not have voter registration and state law forbids the state from releasing details about voters." The Washington Post Ends.png Republican
Ohio Will provide public information On June 30, 2017, Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted said, "Voter registration information is a public record and is available online. The confidential information, such as the last four digits of a voter’s Social Security number or their Ohio driver license number is not publicly available and will not be provided to the Commission." Press release Will provide public information "Secretary of State Jon Husted, a Republican, issued a statement saying voter registration information is already public and available to the commission but that he will not provide the last four digits of voters’ Social Security numbers or their driver’s license numbers. He also said voter fraud is rare in the state and that bipartisan boards have conducted reviews of credible reports of voter fraud and suppression after the last three federal elections. Those results are in the public domain and available to the commission, he said. Husted added, 'In responding to the commission, we will have ideas on how the federal government can better support states in running elections. However, we will make it clear that we do not want any federal intervention in our state’s right and responsibility to conduct elections.'" The Durango Herald Ends.png Republican
Oklahoma Will provide public information Bryan Dean, public information officer for the Oklahoma State Election Board, told NewsOK, "What we will give them is a copy of the same database that anyone could get from us." News OK Will provide public information "Dean reaffirmed on July 27 that the agency will provide the same information to the commission that is available to the general public." The Durango Herald Grey.png Nonpartisan[21]
Oregon Will provide public information In a letter responding to the request, Oregon Secretary of State Dennis Richardson wrote, "Oregon policy prohibits disclosure of some of the information that you requested, such as social security numbers and drivers' license numbers. ... Oregon law provides that any person may receive a statewide list of electors upon payment of $500." Press release Will provide public information "Secretary of State Dennis Richardson, a Republican, wrote a letter Friday to President Donald Trump's commission vice chairman Kris Kobach saying it could receive a statewide list of voters for $500, just like anyone else. However, he noted that he's barred legally from disclosing Social Security and driver's license numbers." Statesman Journal Ends.png Republican
Pennsylvania Will not comply In a statement on June 30, 2017, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf said, "I have serious reservations about the true intentions of this effort in light of the false statements this administration has made regarding voter integrity." Philadelphia Inquirer Will provide public information "Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, wrote a long letter saying that the state will not cooperate at all but that the state will sell them the same data the public can purchase. It can’t be posted online, however." The Durango Herald Electiondot.png Democratic
Rhode Island Will provide public information On June 30, 2017, Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea released a statement, saying, "I will safeguard the privacy of Rhode Island voters and respond only with data that is already publicly available. I will not release social security information or any information that was requested by Secretary Kobach regarding felony status, military status, or overseas citizen information." Press release Request under review Secretary Gorbea announced that she would review the second request, but that a final response might take some time: "I am going to take my time and I am going to review the request and make sure that Rhode Islanders’ information is secure and that we protect our voters." WPRI Electiondot.png Democratic
South Carolina Will not comply On July 6, the South Carolina State Election Commission announced that it would not comply with the request. That same day, South Carolina Republican Party chairman Drew McKissick announced that he would purchase the publicly-available state information himself and submit it to the Commission.[22] U.S. News Response unknown N/A N/A Ends.png Republican[23]
South Dakota Will not comply On June 30, 2017, South Dakota Secretary of State Shantel Krebs said she would not share voter information with the commission. U.S. News and World Report Will provide public information In a September 29, 2017, letter to the commission, South Dakota Secretary of State Shantel Krebs invited the commission to purchase publicly-available voter information under the standard procedure, but that they would be required to pay the $2,500 fee. Rapid City Journal Ends.png Republican
Tennessee Will not comply On June 30, 2017, Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett released a statement, saying, "Although I appreciate the commission's mission to address election-related issues, like voter fraud, Tennessee state law does not allow my office to release the voter information requested to the federal commission." Press release Response unknown N/A N/A Ends.png Republican
Texas Will provide public information On June 30, 2017, the AP reported that Texas would provide public information to the commission. The Associated Press Will provide public information "Texas Secretary of State Rolando Pablos, a Republican, said he will provide the commission public information and 'protect the private information of Texas citizens.' Much of the information requested — including names, addresses, date of birth and party data — are already publicly available in Texas. Social Security numbers are not releasable under Texas law. Publicly available voter registration lists in Texas also do not include information about military status or criminal history." The Durango Herald Ends.png Republican
Utah Will provide public information On June 30, 2017, The Salt Lake Tribune reported that Utah would release publicly available information but Social Security numbers or driver's licence numbers. Salt Lake Tribune Will provide public information "Republican Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox says he will send information classified as public, but data including voters’ Social Security numbers and dates of birth are protected." The Durango Herald N/A[24]
Vermont Will provide public information On June 30, 2017, Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos released a statement, saying, "While it gives me pause to enable the work of this Commission in any way, I am bound by law to provide our publicly available voter file, but will provide no more information than is available to any individual requesting the file." Press release Will not comply On August 4, 2017, Secretary Condos announced that Vermont would not comply with the second request, citing privacy concerns. WAMC Electiondot.png Democratic
Virginia Will not comply On June 29, 2017, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe released a statement, saying, "I have no intention of honoring this request. Virginia conducts fair, honest, and democratic elections, and there is no evidence of significant voter fraud in Virginia." Press release Will not comply "'At best, this commission was set up as a pretext to validate Donald Trump’s alternative election facts, and at worst is a tool to commit large-scale voter suppression,' said Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe." The Durango Herald Electiondot.png Democratic
Washington Will provide public information On June 29, 2017, Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman said in a statement, "As with any request for public records, we are required to comply pursuant to state law regardless of who is making the request. However, as we've only just received the letter from the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, it will take some time to review and thoughtfully consider the other requests made of us." Press release Will provide public information "Secretary of State Kim Wyman, a Republican, says the state will send the commission names, addresses and birth dates of registered voters because they are public record. She said Social Security information, driver’s license numbers, phone numbers and email addresses won’t be released because they aren’t public records." The Durango Herald Ends.png Republican
West Virginia Will provide public information West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner's deputy chief of staff Michael Queen announced on July 10 that "We're not going to do anything that would cause West Virginia voters to lose confidence in our ability to provide fair and fraud-free elections." Queen added that Warner might be required to release publicly available information to the Commission. The Herald-Dispatch Will provide public information "Republican Secretary of State Mac Warner’s office said in a statement that state law prohibits disclosing Social Security and driver’s license numbers, phone numbers and some other details. The office also notes that it can charge $500 for the voter registration list and another $500 for data that shows elections in which each voter cast a ballot." The Durango Herald Ends.png Republican
Wisconsin Will provide public information On June 30, 2017, Michael Haas, administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, said, "State statutes permit the WEC to share confidential information in limited circumstances with law enforcement agencies or agencies of other states. The presidential commission does not appear to qualify under either of these categories. A voter’s name, address and voting history are public, and this information has already been provided to campaigns and other requesters who have paid for it." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Will provide public information In a statement released by the Wisconsin Elections Commission on July 28, 2017, the commission announced that it would provide the PACEI with publicly available requested information following the payment of a $12,500 fee, which is required under Wisconsin statute. Wisconsin Elections Commission Electiondot.png Democratic[25]
Wyoming Will not comply On July 3, Wyoming Secretary of State Ed Murray announced he would "decline to provide any Wyoming voter information. ... It’s not sitting well with me." Casper Star-Tribune Response unknown N/A N/A Ends.png Republican

Map: Second request

Read more on state responses to the commission's requests here.

January 3, 2018: Trump dissolves commission

On January 3, 2018, President Donald Trump signed an executive order dissolving the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement, "Despite substantial evidence of voter fraud, many states have refused to provide the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity with basic information relevant to its inquiry. Rather than engage in endless legal battles at taxpayer expense, today President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order to dissolve the Commission, and he has asked the Department of Homeland Security to review its initial findings and determine next courses of action."[4]

On August 29, 2018, The News Tribune reported that voter data collected by the commision had been destroyed and cases related to data collection had been dismissed.[26]

To see how states responded requests made by the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, click here.

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ WhiteHouse.gov, "President Announces Formation of Bipartisan Presidential Commission on Election Integrity," May 11, 2017
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 The White House, "Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity," July 13, 2017
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Chicago Tribune, "Trump dissolves controversial voter fraud commission, says states fought information requests," January 3, 2018
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 The White House, "Statement by the Press Secretary on the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity," January 3, 2018
  5. ↑ CBS News, "Trump claims 3-5M illegal ballots cost him popular vote, cites no evidence," January 23, 2017
  6. ↑ WhiteHouse.gov, "Executive Order on Imposing Certain Sanctions in the Event of Foreign Interference in a United States Election," September 12, 2018
  7. ↑ WhiteHouse.gov, "Statement from the President," September 12, 2018
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 The Wall Street Journal, "Trump Signs Order Allowing Sanctions on Foreign Election Meddling," September 12, 2018
  9. ↑ Reuters, "Trump administration switches sides, backs Ohio over voter purges," August 8, 2017
  10. ↑ Supreme Court of the United States, "Opinions," accessed April 5, 2019
  11. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  12. ↑ The New York Times, "Trump Picks Voter ID Advocate for Election Fraud Panel," May 11, 2017
  13. ↑ Business Insider, "US states overwhelmingly reject Trump voter-fraud panel's request for sensitive voter information," June 30, 2017
  14. ↑ CBS Sacramento, "California Again Rejects Trump Election Commission Voter Data Request," July 26, 2017
  15. ↑ Alaska is one of three states to not have a secretary of state.
  16. ↑ Hawaii is one of three states to not have a secretary of state.
  17. ↑ Illinois is one of seven states where the secretary of state was not involved in the response to the commission.
  18. ↑ New Jersey is one of seven states where the secretary of state was not involved in the response to the commission.
  19. ↑ New York is one of seven states where the secretary of state was not involved in the response to the commission.
  20. ↑ North Carolina is one of seven states where the secretary of state was not involved in the response to the commission.
  21. ↑ Oklahoma is one of seven states where the secretary of state was not involved in the response to the commission.
  22. ↑ The Post and Courier, "South Carolina GOP chairman will buy and send state voter data to President Donald Trump's fraud panel," July 6, 2017
  23. ↑ South Carolina is one of seven states where the secretary of state was not involved in the response to the commission.
  24. ↑ Utah is one of three states to not have a secretary of state.
  25. ↑ Wisconsin is one of seven states where the secretary of state was not involved in the response to the commission.
  26. ↑ The News Tribune, "Data collected by Trump’s Kobach-led voter fraud commission is ‘entirely deleted,’ August 30, 2018
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