In a recent ruling, a federal judge in New Mexico found that election officials violated public disclosure provisions of the National Voter Registration Act by refusing to provide voter rolls to a conservative group and its public online database. The Voter Reference Foundation, which aims to expand a free database of registered voters, was mostly supported by the judge in its efforts to identify potential irregularities or fraud in voter rolls. The ruling challenged New Mexico’s election law, which bans the publication of voter registration data and restricts its use to political campaigning and noncommercial government purposes. The judge argued that this system hindered public access to voter data and violated federal disclosure requirements.
The federal judge’s decision builds upon a previous ruling that Maine must release its voter list to another conservative-backed group conducting independent audits by comparing voter rolls. The Voter Reference Foundation’s database, VoteRef.com, currently includes information from 32 states and the District of Columbia. The foundation’s chair, Gina Swoboda, expressed gratitude for the court’s decision, emphasizing the importance of public access to voter lists to ensure proper maintenance and transparency in the election process. Despite the ruling, the New Mexico secretary of state’s office plans to appeal, citing concerns about the protection of voters’ personal information and encouraging voter participation.
Conservative groups’ efforts to obtain voter rolls have been fueled by baseless claims of widespread voter fraud, particularly driven by former President Donald Trump’s allegations of a stolen election in 2020. These efforts have led to lawsuits in various states seeking voter registration data, including Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records has refused to hand over voter information to the Voter Reference Foundation, citing concerns about identity theft and misuse of voters’ information. The foundation sued in federal court to obtain the voter rolls, invoking provisions of the National Voter Registration Act.
The New Mexico secretary of state’s office, under the leadership of Democrat Maggie Toulouse Oliver, is committed to advocating for the protection of voters’ personal information and promoting voter participation. The agency spokesman expressed support for portions of the judge’s order that dismissed allegations of free speech violations related to restrictions on the use of voter information. Despite the ongoing legal battles over access to voter rolls, conservative groups like the Voter Reference Foundation are determined to pursue transparency and accountability in the election process through their database initiatives.
Overall, the federal judge’s ruling in New Mexico marks a significant victory for conservative groups seeking greater access to voter rolls for the purpose of identifying irregularities and ensuring transparency in elections. While concerns about voter privacy and potential misuse of data persist, the court’s decision highlights the importance of balancing public access with safeguarding personal information. The legal battles over voter registration data underscore the ongoing debates surrounding election integrity, voter fraud allegations, and the role of independent groups in monitoring and auditing the electoral process to uphold democracy and accountability.
