US. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division NDH ITC Freedom ofWormatton/Privacy Acts Branch - BICN 17?003 67-F 950 Ave, NW Washington, DC 20530 VIA EMU. Ms. Wendy R. Weiser, Director, Democracy Program Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law DEC 2 201? 120 Broadway, Suite 1750 New York, NY 10271 Dear Ms. Weiser: This is in response to your July 25, 2017 Freedom of Information Act request, received by the Civil Rights Division on July 26, 2017, seeking information pertaining to the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity. Enclosed please find a partial response of 31 pages responsive to your request. After review of the responsive Civil Rights Division documents referred to our of?ce, I have determined the enclosed 31 pages may be released to you subject to the excision of the names and other identifying information of private individuals pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552 since disclosure thereof could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. The Division?s processing of records continues, and we will be in Contact with you with additional responses. Finally, when some documents were electronically loaded, the transfer left white boxes which are not redactions. The redacted boxes include the specific redaction code within the boxes. Even though this matter is in litigation, 1 am required to advise you that if you are not satisfied with my response to this first production, you may administratively appeal by writing to the Director, Office of Information Policy (OIP), United States Department of Justice, Suite 11050, 1425 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20530?0001, or you may submit an appeal through OIP's FOIA online portal by creating an account on the following web site: Your appeal must be postmarked or electronically transmitted within 90 days of the date of my response to your request. If you. submit your appeal by mail, both the letter and the envelope should be clearly marked ?Freedom of Information Act Appeal.? I hope the Civil Rights Division has been of some assi . ce 0 you in this matter. I la, Chief Fr rivacy Acts Branch Civil Rights Division -. . . .- From: eiectionlioe Sent: 5/11/2017 3:58:15 PM To: Barman, Robert (CRT) (Robert.Berman@crt.usdojgov} Subject: etectionlineWeekly May 11, 2017 ilresident asserted to idlii?itii?i commission on ?election integrity? Commission to be chaired by vice president in a closed? door meeting with Congressional leaders and subsequently in numerous tweets shortly following his inauguration, President Donald l2 Trump alleged that three to five million illegal votes were cast in the 20l6 general election. Although he had no evidence to back up his claims including a claim that former New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte (R) would had there not been voter fraud Trump said he would sign an executive order to create a presidential commission to look into the alleged voter fraud. The presidents claims were met with denial from state and local elections officials and great skepticism from others in. the elections ?eld. Even weighed in on. the claim. ?The process had integrity it was extremely well administered And in the end, the people?s voice was heard and the process served voters welhn US. Election Assistance Commission Chair Matthew Masterson (R) toid the Center for Public integrity. Now, according to multiple media outlets, the president is expected to sign an executive order today (May ll) authorizing the establishment of an ?election integrity? commission. Read More 0, Also in this edition: E?ectioo tit-Burs his Week Summon Leos waitress? to 3% tioda?tes await? tt?t3sitt?ts ?uorocarbon lots F?ostir?ags This Week Market Ease Underwriting at? Face-5 To amashacr?ha from this please click hag}; CRT-000001 From: Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law linto@lawyerscommitteebrg] Sent: 7/19/2017 18:15:35 PM To: Berman, Robert (CRT) lRobert.Bermsn@crt.usdojgov} Subject: Mr. Kobacb, we, too, can be very persistent Robert, Kansas Secretary of State and Vice Chair of the so~called Presidential Commission on Election Integrity Kris Kobach ought to be clear on one thing: the Lawyers? Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is very persistent in its pursuit of justice and equality? We?ve seen Mr. Kobach in court enough times for him to know this about us. We?ve already been successful in communicating with every secretary of state in the country about the severity of the Commission?s demand for sensitive voter information. in addition, we filed a complaint against Kobach on the grounds that he appeared to be leveraging his leadership of the Commission to further a partisan agenda. We also recently asked the DC, District Court to force the Commission to immediately open its records for the public in advance of yesterday?s meeting. As you might know? the court denied our request, but that has not slowed us down. We will continue to #fightlilrehell in the courts against this absurd attempt at voter suppression and keep our dbbu?liRuV?TE hotlme open to all of you who have experienced vote discrimination or have concerns about the Commission. We need you to spread the word about our voter protection hotline and donate My to help keep our battles in the courts alive. Regards, .7 mum?u.? CRT-000002 Kristen Clarke President and Executive Director lav-lamina? . tf you'd Eike to ungubscribe and stop receiving these emaits ciick here.? CRT-000003 From: Lawyers? Committee for Civii Rights Under Law linto@lawverscommitteeorg] Sent: 7/10/2017 9:46:27 PM To: Berman, Robert (CRT) lRobert.Berman@crt.usdojgov} Subject: We Sued Kobach Dear Rob ert, We just ?led suit against the sham Presidential Advisory Commission on ?Election integrity? for its shady and illegitimate behavior. Kobach?s Commission has been acting in vioiation of the Federal Advisory Committee Aet by withholding information about its meetings and operating behind closed doors. Among the violations is the telephone conference held by the Commission on June 28mm a secret meeting that amounted to Kobaeh?s bizarre request for the personal information of our nation?s 200+ million registered voters. Federai iavv rednires that all President?s Commissions operate transparently. With voting rights and voter privacy at risk, it has never been more important to take a bold stance and hold this Commission accountable. Donate today to snnport onr fight and see Kobaeh?s frandnlent Commission not to rest. ln Struggle, CRT-000004 Kristen Ciarke President and Executive Directer CRT-000005 ?f you'd Eike to ungubscribe and stop receiving these emaiis ciick here.? CRT-000006 From: (USANYE) (W6) usdojgov] Sent: 6/29/2017 12:23:57 PM To: Delineim, Richard (CRT) Subject: Fwd: Heard through grapevine United States Attorney? 5 Office Eastern District of New York Cadman Maze East 11215 .-. That the Pence Commission has asked NYS and other states For its voter roiis. Sent from my iPhone CRT-000007 Frem: Rerman, Robert (CRT) (Robert.Rerman@crt.usdojgov} Sent: 7/18/2017 1:48:54 PM Te: Reii-Piatts, Meredith (CRT) Deiiheim, Richard (CRT) Herren, Chris (CRT) Meiiett, Timothy (CRT) Russ, jehn (CRT) Wertz, Rebeccai (CRT) [Rebecca.Wertz@crt.usdojgov] Subject: FW: ELB News and Cemmentary 7/18/17 Attachments: From: Gr: Rehaif QT Rick Hagen Sent: Tuesday, Juiy 18, 2017 1:14 AM To: Eiection Law Listsery Subject: (EL) ELR News and Commentary 7/18/17 ?Teme: ?ieif?ei ileum 5111311111 give 1.133 Eurim??eiien are 1mm?" 113 Cages meme Ne Mme Remez?iee Rested 0:111:11; 11? 21111? 16:33? am by 11:11:11 Hagen Posted in The 1101:1119 ?We {immetea? me 1193? Ruereme {Semi 111 News? me?ey 11% (331111151) em? are heme sentemee? tedey?? Rested 0:111:13; 11? 21111? 16:33 em by R1111 Hagen Matt iireg?me staiement Posted in :emee?gm finance, Sumeme Cami CRT-000008 ??t?rumo?s eater commission says it doesn?t need to matte priest?s impact assessment? Posted on low 2&1? tics-if} pm by Rick ?ssion Wash 'i'?mes: ln a court filing on Monday, the commission argued federal law doesn?t require it to perform a privacy risk assessment before collecting voter data, which was a key argument in one of the first lawsuits brought by the Electronic Privacy information Center earlier this month. After Kris W, Kobach, the panel vice chairman, asked states to turn over names, partial Social Security numbers, birthdays, political party affiliations, military status and other public information last month, filed suit, hoping to force the commission to complete a Privacy impact Assessment before gathering the personal data. EPIC quickly scored a win when the suspended its collection of state voter information earlier this month until a judge rules on the matter. On Monday the commission asked the judge to deny reguestfor a restraining order on the gathering of data, arguing that the pro?privacy group doesn?t have the legal right, or ?standing,? to file the lawsuit, Posted in iraodo?eot: fraud The Votine,? lots tiew batons on becembet intact?; at ?33, Eiection assistance bomm?n, as House Republicans its to ?lm? it {town Posted on iu?y 2633.? (33:2? pm by Rick Hosea The hack appeared to include a breach of the administrative?access credentials as well as access to nonpublic reports on flaws in voting machines, according to Andrei Barysevich, an analyst with cybersecurity firm Recorded Future. Access to the reports could have allowed someone to expioitfiaws in voting machines, Mr. Barysevich said. The stolen credentials could have been used to install malicious code on the EAC site, thus potentially infecting any user of it. The users could include state election officials, who might then use a thumb memory stick to interact with other machines, such as ballot machines not connected to the internet. The security firm, which assessed the hack as having likely occurred in November, turned the information over to law enforcement in December, and Mr. Barysevich has been cooperating with the on its probe. CRT-000009 its far as the House Repuhiicans trying to shut the EAC, it is hard to imagine a worse idea. As i isrrott?ondse federal agency that serves as a ciearinghouse for information about best voting practices and certifies the security of voting machines. Does that sound like a good idea right now? Posted in {Erection Assistance Commission, The Voting Wars john Portier interviews Estimate; Chertoi?i Patient: Enter Registration ?ats and Bastion Seeoritg Posted on ion; 201? 12:31 on: by itieir tiesen stateh. Posted in e?eeizion administration Mississippi taro ?srnnasinrn on the tinting Rights on Posted on ion: 11,201? 12:03 on": by are?; tissen 85 LAW NS. 6, PP. 1039~14?8, 201?. Voting Rights Act Symposium. 85 Miss. Li. 1039?1393 (2017). (ii) I (1.) (W) George C. Cochran. Foreword. 85 Miss. L.i. 1039-1046 (2017). (ii) I it] Egg) George C. Cochran. in memoriam: Frank Ruff Parker. 85 Miss. Li. 1047?1052 (2017). [it] Beihert Hosemann. Not our grandfather?s Mississippi anymore: impiementing Mississippi?s voter identification requirement. 85 Miss. L.i. (5) (it) (W) Benjamin E. Griffith, Lauren E. Ward. The forbidden fruit of Aiabama Legisiative Biack Caucus v. State of raciai CRT-000010 predominance in redistricting. 85 Miss. Li. 1Q93?1161i2017). it] ioaquin Aviia, Barbara Moiiy Matter. How a targeted triggering approach can repair the Voting Rights Act: Congress can eiirninate the biight of voting discrimination once and for 85 Miss. Li. it] [gig] Armand Beriner. How the courts keep ex-feions disenfranchised. 85 Miss. Li. 1179-1191 (2017). [ii] i i Tonirnie Cardin. Mississippi iegisiative redistricting in the new 85 Miss. Li. 1193?1225 (2017). [it] {in} 5 Carroii Rhodes. Federai appeiiate courts push back against states? voter suppression iaws. 85 Miss. Li. 1227-2269 (2017). Edi i?i Steven i. Muiroy. Coioring outside the iines: erasing ?one?person, one-vote? 8; Voting Rights Act iine-drawing diiernrnas by erasing district iines. 85 Miss. Li. 1271?1304 (2017). [if] i {gr} C. Robert Heath. Appiying the Voting Rights Act in an ethnicaiiy diverse nation. 85 Miss. [ii I Terry Ao Minnis. No ionger invisibie: engaging the growing Asian American eiectorate in the South. 85 Miss. Li. 1333- 1355 (2017?)- 5 [ii I it?ti Roger Ciegg. Hans A. von Spakovsky. ?Disparate impact? and Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. 85 Miss. Li. 1357-1372 (2017i Hans A. von Spakovsky, Roger Ciegg. Feion voting and unconstitutionai congressionai overreach. 85 Miss. Li. 1373?1393 (2017). [Vii Posted in gedagog ?Can iederaiism {Zone with Russian tiiection Meddiing?? Posted on ion: 17,2317 12:33 on": by Rick tiasen Ciara biogs. Posted in eie?ion administratjioi?i, The Voting Wars CRT-00001 1 Rick Hasen Chancellor?s Professor of Law and Political Science UC Irvine School of Law 401 E. Peltasom Dr., Suite 1000 Irvine, CA 92697m8000 949.824.3072 office 949.824.0495 fax rhaeen?1?n4guci.edu CRT-000012 Law?election mailing list CRT-000013 Fram: Gyam?, Stephanie EVE. (CRT) Sent: 5/11/2017 1:59:17 PM T9: Murray, jaseph (CRT) see Hist names under cansideratiom ?n {Eyamf?g Lew {3mg ?ightg ??awat Vasi??g ??aiiami??v?i Ezi?g?'zisa; E??vig?mn LE3. {??pa?mmi me Jugiim CRT-000014 From: Southern Poverty Law Center Sent: 5/18/2017 11:19:35 PM To: Murray, ioseph (CRT) Subject: Trump appoints extremists to voter fraud commission MAY i8, 23f? LC ewe This Extremist to lead new voterjruud commission challenging money hail new SPLC lawsuit in Mississippi Trump?s commission to study mythical voter fraud includes figures tied to hate groups President Trump has appointed Kris Kobach to heip lead a new commission to study the nonexistent threat of voter fraud, which he claims cost him the popuiar vote. Kobach is a lawyer who champions laws to suppress voting and has long represented the Federation for American immigration Reform, which has been named a hate group by the SPLC. Also on the commission is Ken Blackweil, a senior fellow at the Famiiy Research Council, an anti?LGBT hate group. READ MORE SPLC challenges wealthuhased hail system in Alabama county We?ve filed suit today in federal court to challenge a wealth?based bail system that, as in many other jurisdictions across America, discriminates against the poor. People charged with misdemeanors or felonies in Alabama?s Randolph County are automatically jailed if they can't afford bail regardless of whether they?re a threat to the in fine trial if?: ?rm first quite nntmimrp in CRT-000015 challenge the constitutionality of felony hail practices. READ MORE SPLC suit: Mississippi education funding outs ?violate state eonstitntion We went to court this week to restore nearly $20 miliion in funding for Mississippi?s schoois after the money was cut by the governor. Our suit says that under the state?s constitution} only the legislature can cut the state budget. We're seeking a court order to restore money needed by public schools that are already deepiy underfunded. READ MORE News You Should Know Alabama advocates hail women out of?iaii so they can spend Mother?s Day with their kids (Ahcorn) Unity was emerging on sentencing, then came Jet?l? Sessions (The New York Times) The presidential advisory commission on voter suppression (Slate) North Carolina?s new governor vows to oroteet riehts after the bathroom hill debacle (Bustie) How prosecutors are fighting Trump's deportation oians (The Marshall Project) One more to go: New Orieans takes down Civil War general's statue (NPR) Desoite deniai, GoDaddy works with neo?Naai site through subsidiary (Reyeai) Not Guilty: Betty Sheihy acquitted; inultiole iurors in tears; Crutcher's sister says ooliee tried to cover on her brother?s murder (Tulsa Wortd) Share on Faeehook Share on. Twitter View as ?W?ehoage; This email was sent to JosephE. Murray@ Usdoj, Gov. To update your email address or other account information, ,oieese reply to this emaii and fat us know. Take advantage of corporate matching gift opportunities. Find out it yoraremoioyer wilt match your donation to the SPLC today. Was this message forwarded to you? Stine on to 5;??th undates. CRT-000016 Update Preferences Unmabscribe Frivacy Pmiicy Qantas? Us L?om?ght 2531? mu mum m. Fciiow SPLC CRT-000017 From: (W6) I@usdoj.govi Sent: 6/30/2017 2:15:17 AM To: Richardson, iasmvn (CRT) Subject: Fwd: Googie Group} Trump?s voter-fraud commission wants to know voting history, party it) and address of every voter in the US. Begin forwarded message: From: rjoseonesd via Garden State Bar Association Bate: June 29, 2017 at 9:11:28 PM EST To: riosenhesd@rwiosenhiaw.com Subject: Googie Grotto} Trump?s voter-fraud commission wants to know voting history, party it) and address of every voter in the LLS. Reoiva?t?o: rioseoheso@aoi.eom ameriee/tntm Wonkhiog By Cirr?stonher ingredient President ?treme is signed en exeentiee erder en test: it initiating en ineestigetien inte eeter suppression end eieetien trend. Here?s whet we knew so fer. {itetrieit twiertinr?ii?ie Weshingtee itest} "i?he eheir of President ?i?rtirnp?s Election integrity Commission hes penned ietter to 5o states requesting their tnii votermroie deter, ineinding the nerne, address: date of birth, CRT-000018 party affiliation? last four Social Socurity numhor digits and voting history haclr to noon of potcntially cvory votor in tho stator in tho lottcr, a copy of which was mado puhlic lav tho t?lonnoctic?ut socrotary of stato, tho commission hoard Kris Kohach said that ?any documonts that aro suhmittod to tho full Commission will also ho mado availahlo to tho puhlic.? Cn Wodnosday, tho offico of Vicc Prosidcnt Ponco roloasod a. statomont saying ?a lottcr will ho sont today to tho 5o statos and District of Columhia on hohalf of tho Commission roquosting puhlicly availahlo data from stato votor rolls and foodhaclt on how to improvo oloction intogrity.? Wonkhoolt Your daily po?icy shoot shoot from Wonkoiog. Top of Form Bottom of Form Sign up Statos hogan roacting to tho lottor on Thursday aftornoon, "l havo no intontion of honoring this roqnost," said Govornor "l?orry Monuliffo of Virginia in a statomontm "Virginia conducts fair, honost, and domocratic oloctions, and thoro is no ovidonco of significant votor fraud in Virginia." Connocticut?s Socrotary of Stato, liloniso Morrill, said. sho would. "sharo ptihliclymavailahlo information with tho Kohach Commission whilo onsnring that tho privacy of votors is honorod hy withholding protoctod data.? Sho addody howovor, that Kohach "has a rocord of illogally disonfranchising oligihlo votors in Kansas? and that ?givon Socrotary Kohach's history wo find it vory difficult to havo confidonco in tho worlr of this CommissionH Undor fodorai law, oach stato must maintain a contral filo of rogistorod votors. Statos colloct difforont amounts of informatitm on rotors. Whilo tho filos aro tochnically puhlic rocords, statos usually chargo foos to individuals or ontitios who want to accoss thom. Political campaigns and partios typically uso thoso filos to compilo thoir massivo votor lists? in May, Trump croatod. a commission to invostigato allogod acts of votor fraud aftor ho claimodr without ovidonco, that 3 million to 5 million undocumontod immigrants votod illogally in tho goth oloction, Tho commission is chairod hy Kohach, who is tho Kansas socrotary of stato and a votorwframl hardmlinor. Earlior this month, a fodoral judgo finod Kohach for ?prosonting misloading argnmonts in a votingmrolatod lawsuit,? according to Politico. CRT-000019 Advocates for voting rights and civil liherties are also sounding alarnis over the letter. ?The concern is that this is going to he used to justify regressive and disenfranchising federal law.? Myrna Peres. deputy director of the democracy program at New Yorlr. University Law Schools Brennan Center for Justice. said in an intendew. Vanita Gupta, chief executive of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and former head of the Justice Department?s civil rights division, said on the letter is ?laying the groundwork for voter suppression. plain. 81'. simple.? The White House press office did not return a request for comment. on this article. A spolresrnan for Kohaeh in the Kansas secretary of states office referred an inquiry to an entail address listed in the commission?s letter. The commission did not return a request sent. to that entail address. ?l?rurnp and his allies have said the commission?s worlr is necessary to prevent what they call widespread instances of voter fraud. llut evidence for sueh fraud is esoeedinglv thin. Kohach. has made it a central issue of his tenure in Kansas and has secured nine voter? fraud convictions. Most. were older Repuhlican voters, and at least one claims he was targeted for an ?honest mistake.? Academics who have studied the issue for decades say that voter fraud particularly of the type that strict voteruidentification laws chanipioned hy Kohaeh. and others are intended to conihat is vanishingly rare and that voter?all) requirements are a hurdensorne solution to a practically nonexistent prohleni. a. federal iudge ruled that some of Kohach?s proposed ll) requirements constituted a ?mass denial of a fundamental constitutional right.? While civilwliherties advocates are concerned with. what Kohaeh might do with what would amount to a nationwide voter file. privacy advocates worry about the implications of rnalring such data availahle to the puhlie, as the commission says it intends to do. it hasn't specified how it would make the data availahle. ?Why does a randorn nieinher of the puhlic . . . need to lrnow when you last voted and what your political party is?? aslted the llrennan Center?s Peres. ?l think that access to this data in the wrong hands could always leave the opportunity for mischief. in this particular instance, l'rn worried ahout harassn?ient as well.? States are ?stewards of [this] puhlic information.? Peres said. ?Once it leaves their hands in this way, there?s no telling whose going to get it, and how, and what they?re using it for.? ?9'28 CRT-000020 Comments Christopher ingieherri writes about poiities; drug peiiey end things date. He previousiy weiked at the Brookings institution and the Pew Research Center: Fo gaging \Weynes ioseph At flew E?s/temper? New York end New jersey Bets (973) {3764233 Phone {973) 6764299 ides rj You received this message because you are subscribed to the Googie Groups "Garden State Bar Association? group. To unsuhscrihe from this group and stop receiving emaiis from it, send an emaii to gsbe~ To post to this group, send emaii to Visit this group at For more options, visit CRT-000021 Fram: Dave Ceoper (W6) gmaii.com} Sent: 6/30/2017 3:18:27 AM T9: Coaper, David (CRT) [David.C00per@crt.ugdejgov] Attachments: ProPubiica Presidentiai Commission CRT-000022 612912017 Presidential Commission Demands Massive Amounts of State Voter Data ProPublica A commission created by President Donald Trump to enhance con?dence in America?s elections has asked all 50 states for copies of their voter records which often include names, addresses and ages. The commission has said it intends to make the information widely available. by Jessica Huseman ProPublica, June 29, 2017, 6 p.272. On i/Vednesday, ali 50 states were sent letters from Kris Kobach vice chair for the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity requesting information on voter fraud, election security and copies of every state?s voter roli data. he letter asked state officials to deliver the data Within two weeks, and says that all information turned over to the The Trump be made public. The letter does not expiam Administration What the commission plans to do With voter roll data, which Prettabiiea?s often includes the names, ages and addresses of registered 60%? it? 05 5% voters, The commission also asked for information beyond i?r?isldi?m" What is typically contained in voter registration records, incinding Social Security numbers and military status, if the state election databases contain it. President Donald Trump established the commission through an executive order on March 11. its stated goat is to ?promote fair and honest Federal eiections? and it is chaired by Vice President Mike Pence. The commission plans to present a report to Trump that identi?es vulnerabilities in the voting system that could lead to fraud and CRT-000023 wawpropublica. unts?of?state?voter?clatai?' liS 612912017 Presidential Commission Demands Massive Amounts of State Voter Data ProPublica makes recommendations for enhancing voters? con?dence in election integrity. No deadline has been set for completion of the work. A number of experts, as well as at least one state official, reacted with a mix of alarm and bafflement. Some saw political motivations behind the requests, while others said making such information public would create a national voter registration list, a move that could create new election problems. ?You?d think there would want 'to be a lot of thought behind security and access protocols for a national voter file, before you up and created one,? said Justin Levitt, a professor at Loyola University School of Law and former Department of Justice civil rights of?cial. his is asking to create a national voter file in two weeks.? David Becker, the executive director of the Center for Election innovation Research, also expressed serious concerns about the request. ?it?s probably a good idea not to make publicly available the name, address and military status of the people who are serving our armed forces to anyone who requests it,? he said. Kobach, the secretary of state in Kansas, has been concerned about voter fraud for years. His signature piece of legislation was a law requiring Kansans to show proof of citizenship when they register to vote, which is currently ensnarled in a fraught court battle with the American Civil Liberties Union. He has written that he believes people vote twice with ?alarming regularity,? and also that non?citizens frequently vote. Multiple studies have shown neither happens with any consistency. Kobach also runs the interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program, a proprietary piece of software started by Kansas Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh in 2005. Under the program, 30 states pool their voter information and attempt to identify people who are registered in more than one state. Some expect the information Kobach has requested will be used to create a national system that would include data from all 50 states. it is not uncommon for voters to be registered. in more than one state. Many members of Trump?s inner circle including his son?in?law Jared Kushner and daughter Tiffany rump were registered to vote in two states. Given the frequency with which voters move across state lines and re?regis ter, the act of holding two registrations is not in itself fraud. There is no evidence to suggest that voting twice is a widespread problem, though experts say removing duplicate registrations are a good practice if done carefully. ?in theory, 1 don?t think we have a problem with that as an idea, but the devil is always in the details,? said Dale Ho, the director of the ACliU?s Voting Rights Project. While he believes voter registration list maintenance is important, he says Kobach?s Crosscheck program has been repeatedly shown to be ineffective and to produce false matches. A study by a group of political scientists at Stanford published earlier this year found that Crosscheck highlighted 200 false matches for every one true double vote. ?1 have every reason to think that given the shoddy work that Mr. Kobach has done in this area in the past that this is going to be yet another boondoggle and a propaganda tool that tries 'to inflate the problem of double registration beyond what it actually is,? Ho said. Some experts already see sloppy work in this request. On at least one occasion, the commission directed the letter 'to the incorrect entity. in North Carolina, it addressed and sent the letter to Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, who has no authority over elections or the voter rolls. in that state, the North Carolina Board of Elections manages both. Charles Stewart, a professor at MIT and expert in election administration, said it was proof of ?sloppy staff work,? and questioned the speed at which the letter was sent. ?it seems to me that the data aren?t going anywhere. Doing database matching is hard work, CRT-000024 wawpropublica. unts?of?state?r?oter?data#? 2.6 612912017 Presidential Commission Demands Massive Amounts of State Voter Data ProPublica and you need to plan it out carefully,? he said. ?it?s a naive first undertaking by the commission, and reflects that the commission maybe getting ahead of itself.? Connecticut Secretary of State Denise Merrill, who oversees voting in the state, said she was dismayed about the commission?s failure to be clearer about what its intentions are. in a statement, Merrill said her office would share publicly available information with the commission. But she said that ?in the same spirit of transparency? her of?ce would request the commission ?share any memos, meeting minutes or additional information as state officials have not been told precisely what the Commission is looking for.? ?This lack of openness is all the more concerning, considering that the Vice Chair of the Commission, Kris Kobach, has a record of illegally disenfranchising eligible voters in Kansas,? she wrote. Alabama?s Republican Secretary of State John Merrill (no relation) also indicated he had questions for Kobach regarding how much of the data would be made public and how Alabamans? privacy would be protected, even while he expressed support for the commission. ?Kobach is a close friend, and have full confidence in him and his ability, but before we turn over data. of this magnitude to anybody we?re going to make sure our questions are answered,? he said. Colorado Secretary of State Republican Wayne i/Villiams, for his part, said he was not concern ed with what the commission planned to do with the data. ?Just like when we get a [public?records] request, we don?t demand to know what they are going to do with the data,? he said. ?There are important reasons why the voter roll is publicly available information.? he extent to which voter roll data is public varies across the coinitry. ?While some states, like North Carolina, make There?s N0 Evidence Gilt their voter rolls available for free Elecgign Wag Rigged download, other states charge high fees. Alabama, for example, charges one cent per voter in the roll for a total cost of more than $30,000. The state law provides a waiver for government entities, so Merrill said the commission would receive the data for free. Other states, like Virginia, do not make this information public beyond sharing it with formal campaigns and We had more than 1,000 people watching political candidates. When Prol?ublica the vote on Election Day. he millions of tried to purchase voter roll, people voted illegally, we would have seen our request was denied because they some sign of it. Read the story. only release it to government entities for privacy reasons. did not respond to a request regarding whether they would release this information to the PCEI, which while a government entity intends to make the information public. The letter from the commission also asks quite broad questions of state elections officials. ?What changes, if any, to federal election laws would you recommend to enhance the integrity of federal elections?? asks the first question. The letter also asked for all information and convictions related to any instance of voter fraud. or registration fraud, and it solicited recommendations ?for preventing voter intimidation or disenfranchisement.? ?The equivalent is, ?Hey, doctors, what changes would. you suggest regarding healthcare? Let us know in two weeks, said Levitt, the Loyola professor. ?lf 1 were a state election official, 1 wouldn?t know what to do with this.? CRT-000025 wawpropublica. unts?of?state?voter?datai?' 3/5 612912017 wawpropuhlica. unts?of?state?voter? Presidential Commission Demands Massive Amounts of State Voter Data ProPublica l/Vhile the commission is being chaired by Vice President Mike Pence, Kobach signed the letter alone. Jon Greenhaurn, chief counsel for the Lawyers? Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said this is an indication that Kohach not Pence ?will he running the show,? which he said should he a point of concern. ?As we l