Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin is deliberating on whether he will veto a Democrat-backed bill granting Virginia’s voter roll data to a leftist-linked elections group crucial to Democrats’ get-out-the-vote efforts.
On Friday, the Democrat-controlled Senate forwarded legislation (SB 606) to Youngkin’s desk, aiming to compel Virginia’s reentry into the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a voter-roll management system established by far-left activist David Becker. ERIC has been touted as a tool to streamline voter rolls, yet its membership agreement prioritizes registering new voters over cleaning up existing rolls.
The program expands voter rolls by urging “eligible but unregistered” residents to register to vote. ERIC mandates member states to share voter files, licensing records, and voter registration data, which ERIC then cross-references with data from other states. However, ERIC’s data validation process relies on states independently verifying the information it receives.
Virginia Elections Commissioner Susan Beals notified ERIC in May 2023 of the commonwealth’s withdrawal, citing concerns about voter information confidentiality and historical data-sharing controversies. Virginia subsequently established interstate voter data-sharing agreements with six states. Other states like Florida, Missouri, and Texas have also withdrawn from ERIC over similar concerns.
SB 606 aims to overturn Beals’ decision, compelling Virginia to reapply for ERIC membership and fulfill membership obligations. The bill passed along party lines in the House and Senate, with Democrats in favor and Republicans against.
Pressed on Youngkin’s stance, Press Secretary Christian Martinez stated that the governor is reviewing the legislation, emphasizing his focus on important legislative priorities.
Youngkin campaigned on election integrity during his 2021 gubernatorial bid, and his concerns about ERIC’s ties to partisan organizations like the Center for Election Innovation and Research (CEIR) reflect broader issues with the program. CEIR, linked to Democrat-backed voting initiatives during the 2020 election, received substantial funding from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, which was used to promote Democrat-friendly voting policies.
Communication records reveal CEIR’s collaboration with ERIC, suggesting the creation of targeted voter lists for registration outreach, potentially influencing election outcomes. Youngkin faces a decision deadline of March 8 regarding SB 606.
