44 states are balking at voter ID demands from Trump's vote-fraud panel. Panel head Kris Kobach calls that number 'fake news.'
At least 44 states are now declining to fully comply with the demand for sensitive voter information from President Trump's Election Integrity Commission, and the explanations range from hands tied by state law to indignation at the request. "They can go jump in the Gulf of Mexico, and Mississippi is a great state to launch from," said Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann (R). Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh (D) called the "request for the personal information of millions of Marylanders repugnant; it appears designed only to intimidate voters and to indulge President Trump's fantasy that he won the popular vote."
Over the weekend, Trump appeared to take the reluctance to turn over sensitive information personally, tweeting: "Numerous states are refusing to give information to the very distinguished VOTER FRAUD PANEL. What are they trying to hide?" On Wednesday, the vice chairman of Trump's commission, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, hit back in a slightly different manner.
"While there are news reports that 44 states have 'refused' to provide voter information to the commission, these reports are patently false, more 'fake news,'" Kobach said in a statement released by the White House. "At present, only 14 states and the District of Columbia have refused the commission's request for publicly available voter information," while "20 states have agreed to provide the publicly available information requested by the commission and another 16 states are reviewing which information can be released under their state laws."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In a letter sent to all 50 states last week, Kobach asked for the names, birth dates, addresses, political party, and felony convictions of each voter, plus the last four digits of their Social Security numbers, "if publicly available under the laws of your state," explaining that all this information would eventually be released publicly. Among those secretaries of state who won't hand over all that information are Kobach and Connie Lawson, another Republican on Trump's commission and the secretary of state of Indiana, who said state law prevents her from handing over "the personal information requested by Secretary Kobach."
The pushback isn't unexpected, given that states run elections and resent intrusion from the feds, Florida GOP operative John McKager "Mac" Stipanovich tells The Washington Post. "I think if it were a different president, you might not get a markedly different result," he added. "But what you would not get is some of the heartfelt explanations about why they're not complying."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
The Icelandic women’s strike 50 years onIn The Spotlight The nation is ‘still no paradise’ for women, say campaigners
-
Mall World: why are people dreaming about a shopping centre?Under The Radar Thousands of strangers are dreaming about the same thing and no one sure why
-
Why scientists are attempting nuclear fusionThe Explainer Harnessing the reaction that powers the stars could offer a potentially unlimited source of carbon-free energy, and the race is hotting up
-
NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges
-
Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction
-
Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters
-
Trump demands millions from his administrationSpeed Read The president has requested $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for previous federal investigations
-
Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leakSpeed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroomspeed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
-
Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deploymentSpeed Read A divided federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can send the National Guard to Portland
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ ralliesSpeed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
