Texas lawmakers approve Senate Bill 1070, which seeks to end the state’s participation in the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) for cross-checking voter rolls.
What’s happening: Texas could be the latest and largest state to leave the bipartisan data-sharing partnership, following recent departures by multiple GOP-led states.
* The bill now heads to Governor Greg Abbott for approval.
* Virginia announced its departure from ERIC on May 11, becoming the eighth state to do so.
Why it matters: Opponents of ERIC argue that the people running the system do not share conservative values, while critics worry about the absence of an immediate replacement system for cross-checking voter rolls.
* Texas election officials announced a newly-created position in the secretary of state’s office to develop and manage an interstate voter registration cross-check program, but it may take time to be fully operational.
* Joyce LeBombard, president of the League of Women Voters of Texas, suggests that if there are issues with ERIC, member states should work on improving the system rather than abandoning it.
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