Michigan Officials: No Problem Providing Most Voter Info to Trump Panel
Michigan says most voter info demanded by panel looking at possible election fraud is already available to the public.
More than half of the states in the U.S. are reportedly refusing to provide some or all of the voter information requested by a commission established by President Trump to examine whether any fraud occurred in the 2016 elections.
But election officials in Michigan say they will have little problem giving the commission information about voters in the Wolverine state.
That’s because they say most of that data is already available to the public.
The panel is requesting the personal information of voters in all 50 states.
President Trump says the Advisory Commission on Election Integrity is investigating his controversial claim that millions of people voted illegally in the most recent U.S. elections.
The President questioned if states who refuse to offer details on voters and voting behavior are trying to “hide” something.
The commission is also supposed to offer suggestions on how to improve ballot security.
The head of the commission is the Secretary of State of Kansas, an official who has demanded that registered voters in that state provide their birth records and passports.
The commission wants all 50 states to produce voter information including names, birth dates, political party affiliations, the last four digits of their Social Security numbers and who they have voted for over the past decade.
Officials in at least 10 states, including New York, Virginia and California, are refusing to give out the information, alleging that it would be an invasion of privacy and could possibly lead to widespread voter suppression.
The Congressional Black Caucus, which includes U.S. Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), is making a similar argument.
But Michigan Secretary of State spokesperson Fred Woodhams tells WDET much of that voter information, other than Social Security or driver’s license numbers, is readily available to the public for what he calls a “nominal” fee of $23.
He says the information is often requested by political candidates and those creating ballot measures.
Woodhams says Michigan has data on whether someone voted that goes back about 15 years.
But he adds that the state does not require voters to register their political party affiliation.
Michigan elections officials say they received the request for voter information over the weekend.
