Florida Withdraws From Electronic Registration Information Center

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Florida is becoming a member of different GOP-led states like Missouri and West Virginia and ending its membership with the digital registration info heart, also called ERIC.

Secretary of State Wire Byrd mentioned the choice was made due to knowledge privateness and “blatant partisanship.” However supporters of the ERIC are talking out towards the choice.

“It’s actually simply straight bipartisan/non-partisan election integrity,” mentioned Brad Ashwell, Florida director of All Voting is Native.

Gov. Ron Desantis supported ERIC in 2019 when he introduced that Florida would be part of as a member. He mentioned it might be sure that the state has cleaner and extra correct voter registration rolls.

Whereas engaged on a narrative concerning the state ending his membership with ERIC, ABC Motion Information discovered a couple of Pinellas County man who was arrested Monday, March 6. His title is Philip French. In keeping with the Pinellas Co. supervisor of elections, Julie Marcus, French voted twice in 2020.

“It will be significant for us to make it possible for we offer any proof of potential voter fraud to our state legal professional for potential persecution,” Marcus mentioned.

In keeping with the arrest report, French voted in Florida and in Virginia in 2020. Marcus mentioned he was not the one one. There are two different Pinellas Coounty residents being investigated.

“We acquired this info due to Florida’s relationship with ERIC,” she mentioned.

Ashwell mentioned that’s proof optimistic that ERIC works and is required within the state. Secretary Byrd mentioned, in a press launch, the choice is to safe knowledge and remove what some state leaders contemplate partisan tendencies, writing, “Withdrawing from ERIC will guarantee the information privateness of Florida voters is protected.”

“It’s baffling that they’d take away the state from it,” mentioned Ashwell.