American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Aug. 23, 2023
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
Nine conservative-leaning states have pulled out of ERIC, a cooperative of states which uses advanced computer matching to keep voter rolls clean. Now, a group of GOP activists is launching its own system called EagleAI NETwork and pitching it to counties and states – and for use by activists in “challenging” voter eligibility.
NBC News and the Atlanta Journal Constitution, tipped off by video presentations to GOP activists obtained by watchdog Documented, reported that the rollout of the effort is being aided by former Trump election lawyer Cleta Mitchell. NPR reported that Mitchell helped seed doubt and encouraged states to pull out of ERIC. As we’ve reported, Mitchell’s Election Integrity Network and other conservative groups have lobbied state legislatures like North Carolina’s to aggressively pass laws allowing more poll observers, public access to voter information, and a loosening of rules allowing challenges to voter eligibility.
The founders of the EagleAI NETwork, spelled EagleA-I, were recorded pitching the system to activists, specifically mentioning that the system would flag eligibility of voters at homeless shelters and nursing homes, according to NBC.
One of EagleAI’s founders says the group is in talks with Georgia counties. In a statement to NBC News, Georgia Election Director Blake Evans said, “Eagle AI data offers zero additional value to Georgia’s existing list maintenance procedures.”
We’ve linked our sources at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
NBC News – Inside the right’s effort to build a voter fraud hunting tool
NPR – How the far right tore apart one of the best tools to fight voter fraud
New Brunswick News/Atlanta Journal Constitution – Georgia company EagleAI pursues multistate voter registration cancellations
Documented – Meet “Eagle AI,” the Cleta Mitchell-Backed MAGA Mass Voter Challenge Program
Campaign Legal Center – What Is ERIC, and Why Is It Critical for Our Democracy?
Groups Taking Action:
Issue One, Common Cause Georgia, Center for Election Innovation & Research, Protect Democracy
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