# Republicans against actually fighting voter fraud (i.e. use of ERIC) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 9, 2022, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-against-actually-fighting-voter-fraud-i-e-use-of-eric/959164 "2022-02-09T17:14:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2022, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-against-actually-fighting-voter-fraud-i-e-use-of-eric/959164/1 "2022-02-09T17:14:52Z")
There’s a campaign among the right to get states to drop participation in ERIC ( [Electronic Registration Information Center](https://ericstates.org/) ). This is a system that lets states share data on voters who die or move out of state. So it can, for example, help discover people who vote in more than one state. The recent news is that Louisiana has dropped out of the system: > **[Right-wing conspiracies have a new target: a tool that fights actual voter fraud](https://www.npr.org/2022/02/09/1076529761/right-wing-conspiracies-have-a-new-target-a-tool-that-fights-actual-voter-fraud)** > > The bipartisan program — called ERIC — allows states to improve voting access and election security at the same time. But it's currently under attack from the far right. I have a feeling that this is related to the recent (in the last few months) case of three Florida voters who were caught voting in two different states in the last general election. They were from The Villages, a big retirement community in central Florida and a big Republican stronghold. I’m wondering if at least one of those people were big Republican donors. Make that four of them: > **[4th resident of The Villages arrested for voter fraud](https://www.wfla.com/news/politics/4th-resident-of-the-villages-arrested-for-voter-fraud/)** > > A fourth resident of The Villages, Fla. was arrested for casting multiple votes in the 2020 election. Now there’s no question that ERIC can be abused. I remember that a few years ago, Georgia was removing voters using ERIC but only matching them on the basis of first and last name. That’s definitely abuse, since just first and last does not definitely identify people. (For example, I knew three different people named Russell Brown by the time I was 25.) Other factors, like date of birth, have to be used. But if they do use multiple data points, it’s not a bad system. But only if most states participate. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-against-actually-fighting-voter-fraud-i-e-use-of-eric/959164/2 "2022-02-10T14:25:12Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > There’s a campaign among the right to get states to drop participation in ERIC ( [Electronic Registration Information Center](https://ericstates.org/) ). This is a system that lets states share data on voters who die or move out of state. So it can, for example, help discover people who vote in more than one state. The recent news is that Louisiana has dropped out of the system: > > [Right-wing conspiracy theories target tool that fights actual voter fraud : NPR](https://www.npr.org/2022/02/09/1076529761/right-wing-conspiracies-have-a-new-target-a-tool-that-fights-actual-voter-fraud) From the NPR article: > … since the state joined ERIC in 2014, the program has identified more than 16,000 dead people on Louisiana’s voting lists and more than 54,000 people who have moved out of the state. But by choosing to leave, the state will no longer have access to that data. I can’t for the life of me understand why people supposedly so concerned about election integrity would drop out of a system that potentially prevented 70,000 fraudulent votes. (I mean, you can go with stupidity, paranoia, or pure evil, but none of them make any sense.) ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-against-actually-fighting-voter-fraud-i-e-use-of-eric/959164/3 "2022-02-10T14:44:58Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > I can’t for the life of me understand why people supposedly so concerned about election integrity would drop out of a system that potentially prevented 70,000 fraudulent votes. Because they aren’t really interested in preventing voter fraud. This system catches voter fraud, but that includes voter fraud by Republican voters. Can’t be having that. Voting in more than one state in the same election is often (usually?) done by people who own homes in more than one state. Those will more likely vote R rather than D. The examples from The Villages were probably all R voters. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-against-actually-fighting-voter-fraud-i-e-use-of-eric/959164/4 "2022-02-10T15:06:32Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Voting in more than one state in the same election is often (usually?) done by people who own homes in more than one state. Those will more likely vote R rather than D. The examples from The Villages were probably all R voters. That makes sense. But this opens the door for people who simply move out of state – without continuing to own a home in their original state – to vote in both their old and new states. Those can easily be people of either party – and they likely outnumber dual-home owners 100 to 1. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-against-actually-fighting-voter-fraud-i-e-use-of-eric/959164/5 "2022-02-10T15:16:09Z")
I could imagine a scenario where someone who owns a home in more than one state would want to vote legitimately in each, for local/state issues and representation. Whereas, voting twice for President would be prohibited. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-against-actually-fighting-voter-fraud-i-e-use-of-eric/959164/6 "2022-02-10T15:22:41Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > I could imagine a scenario where someone who owns a home in more than one state would want to vote legitimately in each, for local/state issues and representation. They might want that, but I don’t think doing so is allowed anywhere. You’re only a resident of one place at a time. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-against-actually-fighting-voter-fraud-i-e-use-of-eric/959164/7 "2022-02-10T15:23:07Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > But this opens the door for people who simply move out of state – without continuing to own a home in their original state – to vote in both their old and new states. Those people would have to vote absentee in their old state. In my state, which has all-vote-by-mail, ballots are not allowed to be forwarded. If the person no longer lives there, their ballot must be returned to the Elections Office. Even if the forwarding address is within the state. I’m fairly certain this is enforced by the Postal Service. That is, the Postal Service doesn’t forward ballots. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-against-actually-fighting-voter-fraud-i-e-use-of-eric/959164/8 "2022-02-10T15:26:32Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > io where someone who owns a home in more than one state would want to vote legitimately in each, for local/state issues and representation. Whereas, voting twi I would think there _is_ the concept of primary residence in the US right? ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-against-actually-fighting-voter-fraud-i-e-use-of-eric/959164/9 "2022-02-10T15:34:48Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > > [@Akaj](#): > > > > But this opens the door for people who simply move out of state – without continuing to own a home in their original state – to vote in both their old and new states. > > Those people would have to vote absentee in their old state. In my state, which has all-vote-by-mail, ballots are not allowed to be forwarded. If the person no longer lives there, their ballot must be returned to the Elections Office. Even if the forwarding address is within the state. I’m fairly certain this is enforced by the Postal Service. That is, the Postal Service doesn’t forward ballots. Sure, but if people are determined to cheat, they can find a way to get those absentee ballots from their old state. I live near the Illinois-Wisconsin border, and plenty of people live in one and work in the other. Just swing by the old place on your way home from work, and you too can commit election fraud! The ERIC system makes that impossible, right? ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-against-actually-fighting-voter-fraud-i-e-use-of-eric/959164/10 "2022-02-10T15:56:43Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > Sure, but if people are determined to cheat, they can find a way to get those absentee ballots from their old state. Yes, but how many people are that determined to cheat? Probably not many. > [@Akaj](#): > > The ERIC system makes that impossible, right? Not impossible, but certainly very difficult. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-against-actually-fighting-voter-fraud-i-e-use-of-eric/959164/11 "2022-02-10T16:23:10Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Yes, but how many people are that determined to cheat? Probably not many. Agreed – but you could say the same about dual-home people, too. The point is that withdrawing from ERIC makes it easier for those so determined to actually get away with it. ---
**Author:** ![Dandan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@Dandan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-against-actually-fighting-voter-fraud-i-e-use-of-eric/959164/12 "2022-02-10T16:26:39Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > I can’t for the life of me understand why people supposedly so concerned about election integrity would drop out of a system that potentially prevented 70,000 fraudulent votes. > > (I mean, you can go with stupidity, paranoia, or pure evil, but none of them make any sense.) Combination of stupidity, paranoia, and pure evil? Dan ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-against-actually-fighting-voter-fraud-i-e-use-of-eric/959164/13 "2022-02-10T16:28:21Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > I could imagine a scenario where someone who owns a home in more than one state would want to vote legitimately in each, for local/state issues and representation. Whereas, voting twice for President would be prohibited. Well, there you go – people who can afford a second home are presumed (accurately or otherwise) to skew Republican; ergo, the Republican Party is opposed to _actual_ voter integrity measures that might stop them from cheating. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-against-actually-fighting-voter-fraud-i-e-use-of-eric/959164/14 "2022-02-10T16:32:08Z")
> [@Grey](#): > > I would think there _is_ the concept of primary residence in the US right? Well, yes, but if were paying property taxes on my secondary residence, I would like to have some say in what goes on locally, yah? Taxation without representation, and all that. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-against-actually-fighting-voter-fraud-i-e-use-of-eric/959164/15 "2022-02-10T16:36:35Z")
I’d disagree and say that your investment in a place that you do not principally reside is less than those that do. You are, in effect, a guest of the area. But it’s a digression from the thread and I did get my answer so I’ll stop. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-against-actually-fighting-voter-fraud-i-e-use-of-eric/959164/16 "2022-02-10T17:00:46Z")
Yeah, sorry for the hijack. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2022, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-against-actually-fighting-voter-fraud-i-e-use-of-eric/959164/17 "2022-02-13T07:49:16Z")
Did a bit of research and couldn’t find much about other multi-state voters in Florida. Just this one article from 2016 about an analysis of the 2014 election: > **[Mayo: An election so nice, they voted twice?](https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2016/01/22/mayo-an-election-so-nice-they-voted-twice/)** > > All this talk of voter fraud all these years and it turns out Florida election officials might have been looking in the wrong place. The problem isn’t just felons or non-citizens improperly c… > [@](#): > > At least that’s what a local data analyst has discovered, as he found dozens of Broward and Palm Beach County voters (and about 50 statewide) also cast ballots in New York, New Jersey and North Carolina in the 2014 general election. Since that wasn’t a Presidential election, those may not have been illegal, but I expect that if they vote twice then, they’ll have also voted twice for President. Anyway this shows the problem is not restricted to one retirement community nor only Republican voters. Further down the article: > [@](#): > > This issue has been raised in the past. In 2004, the Orlando Sentinel found that 68,000 Floridians were also registered to vote in Georgia or North Carolina and that more than 1,000 double-voted in general elections. I don’t how these two analyses found the multiple voters. That detail was not mentioned. The guy in 2014 may have had access to the ERIC db; ERIC did not exist yet in 2004 for the earlier analysis.