U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch is calling on Florida election officials to participate in a national database aimed at preventing voter fraud — amid reports that more than two dozen people possibly voted twice in the 2014 general election. The West Boca Democrat penned a letter to Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner on Tuesday, urging him to sign up for the Electronic Registration Information Center, a database used by 15 states and the District of Columbia. Deutch says the system known as ERIC would improve the accuracy of voter rolls by allowing Florida to compare its list of voters with other states’ at a minimal cost of $50,000.
“We have a record when it comes to our elections that is obviously not one we are terribly proud of,” he said. “I can’t understand why we wouldn’t join an effort with a nationwide database that can combat problems of people being registered to vote in two states.”
Deutch’s calls come after election supervisors in Broward and Palm Beach counties launched probes in January into reports of as many as 32 people voting twice in the 2014 general election — once in Florida and once in their home state up North. It’s a felony to vote in the same federal election twice.
Meredith Beatrice, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of State, said Florida has been unable to participate in ERIC because state law makes some voter information confidential, and it can’t be disclosed to other states.
Full Article: Congressman pushes for Florida to join national voter registration database – Sun Sentinel.