U.S. Sens. Jack Reed and Minnesota’s Amy Klobuchar are leading a group of U.S. senators asking the Trump administration to withdraw its request for voter roll data from states.
The Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity is asking all 50 states to provide voter information including individuals’ party affiliation and partial Social Security numbers. The request is part of a federal investigation into voter fraud. President Donald Trump has claimed repeatedly that millions of people committed voter fraud in the 2016 presidential election. Those claims are unverified.
In the letter to Chairman of the Commission, Vice President Mike Pence, and Vice Chairman Kris Kobach, the senators expressed concerns over voter privacy. They also voiced worry that such an investigation might result in accidental the removal of eligible voters from state rolls.
The senators say if the administration won’t rescind the request, they require their logistical concerns be answered by mid-July.
Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo has already said Rhode Island would not be complying with the request.
Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea issued this statement following the federal request.
“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.”
