This bill requires the Secretary of State to enter into a membership agreement with the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). The agreement would allow for the sharing of voter information or data from the statewide centralized voter registration database, as well as relevant voter information from other state agencies, the Secretary of State, and political subdivisions. The purpose of this sharing is to compare duplicate voter information with other states or groups of states. The Secretary of State must ensure that any shared information is protected and that confidential information remains confidential. The bill also requires the Secretary of State to receive ERIC reports for the purpose of comparing duplicate voter information and referring cases of suspected illegal voting to the attorney general for investigation. Additionally, the Secretary of State must receive ERIC reports to improve the accuracy of voter registration data and contact eligible citizens who are not registered to vote. The funding for implementing this section will come from federal funds available for election-related expenses.
The fiscal impact of this bill is indeterminable, as the specific financial implications, including staffing and mailing costs, are uncertain. The initial fee to join ERIC is $25,000, and there may be yearly costs ranging from $37,000 to $174,000. The Department of State indicates that data security, staffing needs, and compliance costs are yet to be determined. It is also possible that additional general funds may be needed to ensure compliance with federal funding rules.