The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), which helps states maintain voter rolls, reportedly failed to meet an October 7 deadline to provide information about how it handles and shares sensitive voter data.

Questions About Who Gets Voter Information

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According to the Michigan Fair Elections Institute (MFEI), federal officials are examining whether ERIC shared personal information with outside organizations, including groups that might be using the data for partisan means.

Michigan joined ERIC in 2019 under Benson’s leadership. Participating states regularly provide voter registration and motor vehicle records to help identify outdated registrations, duplicate records and eligible but unregistered voters.

Privacy for Some, Data for Others?

The controversy comes as Benson has separately resisted DOJ demands for Michigan’s unredacted voter registration database, citing concerns about protecting residents’ personal information.

Critics are questioning why Michigan continues sharing information with ERIC while Benson opposes providing similar records to Trump officials.

MFEI Raises Concerns About Noncitizen Records Excluded From ERIC

The questions about Michigan’s voter data don’t end with who gets access. MFEI is also raising concerns about what information ERIC doesn’t receive – particularly records involving noncitizens. According to MFEI, the agreement with ERIC prohibits states from submitting records indicating an individual is a noncitizen. While that keeps known noncitizens off voter outreach lists, MFEI argues it also prevents ERIC from identifying potential noncitizens already on the voter rolls.

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For now, Michigan remains an ERIC member, and questions about the organization’s data-sharing practices remain unresolved.