19 May 2022

Working as a data analyst, I have encountered client data in all conditions. Stacks of hardcopy *paper* files that need to be entered manually into a data system Excel spreadsheets that must be cleaned, compiled, exported and reimported electronic data from multiple systems that require definition and alignment on common variables, aggregating and disaggregating.

Fortunately, most organizations have adopted enterprise data systems and are no longer using disparate systems that cannot "speak to each other." Similarly, given the level of data knowledge and expertise in the United States, it's not surprising that state elections officials collaborated on a common, multi-state system to prevent fraud, and lies about voter fraud.

From its website, https://ericstates.org/, the Electronic Registration Information Center, also known as ERIC, is a "non-profit organization with the sole mission of assisting states to improve the accuracy of America’s voter rolls and increase access to voter registration for all eligible citizens."

"The seven states that formed ERIC in 2012 included Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, Nevada, Utah, Virginia and Washington. Since that time, 31 states and the District of Columbia have signed on as members. The system is controlled by the states. Each state designates a representative to the ERIC Board of Directors.

Each member submits at a minimum its voter registration and motor vehicle licensee data to ERIC. The data includes names, addresses, date-of-birth, last four digits of the social security number. Each member state receives reports that show voters who have moved within their state, voters who have moved out of state, voters who have died, duplicate registrations in the same state, and individuals who are potentially eligible to vote but are not yet registered. States may request a report identifying voters who appear to have voted twice within the state in the prior federal election, voted in more than one state in the prior federal election, or who voted on behalf of a deceased voter in the prior federal election."

This collaborative system is a data-driven effort that prevents voter fraud and helps the various secretaries of state maintain accurate voter rolls. Other than the potential risk of data theft <Private data such as date of birth and the last four digits of the Social Security number are protected using a cryptographic one-way hash and then transmitted to ERIC> this nonpartisan effort is in the toolbox and seems to be working because there were only a few instances voting anomalies, despite a nationwide partisan effort to prove otherwise.

The 2020 Elections

​​The chaos of the 2020 U.S. presidential election is rooted in historical voter suppression. The domestic terrorists who violently attacked our congressional leaders on January 6, 2021 were angry because their candidate did not win. To them, the only way he could lose is if there was some cheating involved.
In contrast, this was not the sentiment nor the reaction of Democratic voters in the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election, which did not have a desired outcome for democratic voters. Many Americans were displeased yet, no one stormed the U.S. Capitol building to attempt to overturn a constitutional process.
Unfortunately, the campaign of disinformation, lies and chaos continues and so will the violence if dishonesty and unethical behavior continues. Fortunately, the data does not lie.