Arizona Secretary Reagan Responds to Trump Commission Request For Voter Data

By Heather van Blokland, Phil Latzman
Published: Tuesday, July 4, 2017 - 6:52am
Updated: Tuesday, July 4, 2017 - 12:34pm

Arizona Secretary of State Michele Reagan issued a written statement late Monday rejecting a request for voter registration data from the Trump administration as part of the president’s investigation into potential voter fraud.

Reagan said she shares the concerns of many Arizonans that the request for voter information — including names, addresses, party affiliation and voting records — violates privacy rights.

The letter, from the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, was officially received by Reagan on Monday. In a written response, Reagan denied the Trump administration.

Reagan said she is skeptical that Arizona’s voter roll would shed light on "vulnerabilities and issues related to voter registration and voting" that may be part of any investigation in other states.

She also said this request, by Presidential Executive Order, is not a normal information request and puts states at potential cybersecurity risk by exposing voter data.

Reagan spokesman Matt Roberts said, “we’re always interested in working with our states and partners to make sure our registration database is accurate as possible. But in this current form, this didn’t meet our criteria, and we have rejected it.”

Last Friday, Reagan said Arizona would hand over voter data to a commission looking into allegations of voter fraud, excluding sensitive information such as birth dates and Social Security numbers.

Now, Reagan says the request for extensive voter information is not in the state's best interest.

Arizona joins a growing number of states, now at least 41, that have balked at aiding President Trump's commission.