NPR investigation reveals the growing influence of the far right and their efforts to dismantle the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC).
Starting point: The far-right website Gateway Pundit initiated discussions on ERIC in January 2022, which led to a campaign against the voter fraud prevention tool.
* A week later, Louisiana became the first state to withdraw from ERIC, citing concerns from citizens, government watchdogs, and media reports.
Local groups’ involvement: NPR found that local “election integrity” groups played a significant role in the effort to discredit ERIC across the country.
* Groups like Protect Your Vote Florida launched campaigns to influence state legislators to suspend their contracts with ERIC.
Trump ally’s coordination: Cleta Mitchell, known for working with Trump to overturn the 2020 election, has been a ringleader in the effort to dismantle ERIC.
* Mitchell hosted a secret ERIC summit with red state lawmakers last summer and has started an Election Integrity Network.
Impact on elections: With states withdrawing from ERIC, voter rolls may be less accurate leading to longer lines at precincts and mail ballots being sent to incorrect addresses.
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