The Texas secretary of state began the process of the state’s resignation Thursday from the Electronic Registration Registration Information Center, also known as ERIC, an interstate tool used to help keep voter rolls clean.
Texas is the largest and most populous state to leave the non-profit organization that was created in 2012 and is composed of member states that share voter information.
The withdrawal follows a push from Republican leaders who supported Senate Bill 1070 to stop using the voter registration program.
“As fewer states participated in ERIC, the costs were set to increase. Texas would be paying more for less data. Additionally, the passage of SB 1070 set up that the state would not be able to stay in ERIC long-term,” Ms. Pierce wrote.
In March, Secretary of State Jane Nelson announced structural changes to the state’s elections division, signaling the state’s upcoming plans to leave the coalition.
Earlier this week, Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a bill that called for the withdrawal from ERIC.
The legislation, authored by state Sen. Bryan Hughes (R), calls on the secretary of state to design the state’s own multistate cross-check program or to “identify and contract with a private sector data system.”
The new law will be in effect by the time the withdrawal from ERIC is complete.
“There is no immediate plan to join another system, but we continue to research options,” Ms. Pierce said.
It is not immediately clear whether or not the state is in the process of developing its own system. The Epoch Times has reached out to the Secretary of State’s office for clarification.
Other States’ Withdrawals
Texas is one of nine GOP-led states to resign from the organization over the last 18 months. It joins Alabama, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia in leaving the program.ERIC membership has dropped from 33 states, plus Washington, D.C., in 2022 to 24 states, plus Washington, D.C., following the announcement of Texas’ exit.
“We will continue our work on behalf of our remaining member states in improving the accuracy of America’s voter rolls and increasing access to voter registration for all eligible citizens,” Hamlin told Politico.
No Democratic states have departed the organization since 2021. GOP-led Georgia and Utah have remained members.