02 July, 2017
Commission critics say it is an attempt to validate Trump's claim and to suppress voting in future elections by making it more hard to register to vote and to stay on the voting rolls, especially for those who move often, don't vote often, or have common names that may lead to confusion and cause an eligible voter to be purged from the voter rolls. CNN obtained a copy of the letter sent to Maine's secretary of state.
The letter was discussed on an organizational call of the commission, according to a White House readout and spokesman Marc Lotter.
It's illegal for many of these states to turn over such records, and in part, that's why 25 of them have refused the Trump administration's request. Several others, including SC and Arkansas, had not yet received the letter from commission Vice Chair Kris Kobach.
Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann, a Republican serving his third term, said in a statement he had not received the commission's request.
Given the mishmash of information Trump's commission will receive, it's unclear how useful it will be or what the commission will do with it. Trump established the commission to investigate allegations of voter fraud in the 2016 elections, but Democrats have blasted it as a biased panel that is merely looking for ways to suppress the vote. "Kentucky will not aid a commission that is at best a waste of taxpayer money and at worst an attempt to legitimize voter suppression efforts across the country". "Mississippi residents should celebrate Independence Day and our State's right to protect the privacy of our citizens by conducting our own electoral process".
The Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity has asked states to provide voter names, party affiliations, addresses and voting histories, if state law allows it to be public.
While officials in some states said they would partly honor the request but not share any protected voter information.
Advocates for voting rights and civil liberties also are sounding alarm over the letter.
The scope of the commission and the commission's request has also raised eyebrows. And that's something the public desperately needs to know because of course there were allegations that Russian Federation attempted to try to get into the voter rolls, that other private individuals may have tried to get into the states' voter rolls.
If this commission were genuine, it would consider ways to make it easier to vote and enhance the election system, such as through automatic voter registration or by increasing early voting opportunities.
But Trump and others say the commission is needed to assure the integrity of elections.
Trump has alleged, without evidence, that 3 to 5 million people voted illegally in the last election. Vice President Mike Pence chairs the commission, which has four Democratic members so far.
Trump created the commission through an executive order in May. Wisconsin officials said the commission would have to pay $12,500 for the records. Lotter said the goal of the commission is to have a report to the President within a year.
