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Public commenters urge Georgia to stay in ERIC, citing data security and cost concerns
Summary
During open comment the committee heard from Michael Beach and David Schafer (Common Cause) urging lawmakers not to withdraw Georgia from ERIC; they said leaving would raise costs, increase administrative burden and reduce interstate data matching that improves voter roll accuracy.
During open public comment following committee business, Michael Beach (retired CDC employee) and David Schafer of Common Cause of Georgia urged lawmakers not to advance proposed changes (referenced in testimony as "2‑15") that would reduce or end Georgia's participation in the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC).
Beach said ERIC was created with support from the Pew Charitable Trusts, is controlled by state membership and funded by dues, and argued that ERIC provides uniform data protection and interstate matching that would be difficult and more risky to replicate. He warned that pulling out of ERIC could be "a step backward" that increases the risk of data breaches and administrative burdens.
David Schafer said Common Cause opposes the bill in its current form, listing anticipated negative impacts including higher taxpayer costs for data matching, reduced interstate matches, greater staff burden at the secretary of state's office, more provisional ballots and greater voter‑facing confusion. Schafer said ERIC has robust privacy and cybersecurity infrastructure and that evidence from states that left ERIC suggests downsides are substantial.
The committee closed public comment and adjourned.
