Vermont Business MagazineIn response to a letter sent by Election Integrity Commission Co-Chair Kris Kobach requesting sensitive voter data, including social security numbers, driver’s license numbers and dates of birth, Vermont Secretary of State JimCondos has issued the following statement refusing to comply with this request: “Over the weekend I have heard from many Vermonters who have contacted me with their concerns about sending their personal information to President Trump’s so-called Election Integrity Commission. I want to make one thing perfectly clear: Vermont will NOT be complying with the Commission’s request for Vermont voters’ private and sensitive information. Social security numbers, dates of birth and driver’s license numbers are all off limits. Protecting the privacy and security of Vermont voters’ most sensitive information is something I take very seriously, and I will not compromise the privacy of Vermont citizens to support the Trump Administration’s witch hunt for widespread voter fraud, which has been disproven many times over by non-partisan experts.
“Over the weekend we discovered that the Commission’s email address for submission of voter data is unsecured. For Kris Kobach and Vice President Pence to think that having sensitive voter data sent in this manner is acceptable is baffling.
“I replied to the Commission’s request for information asking how this data will be used, transferred securely and stored in a secure manner. I have not received a response, and I refuse to respond or comply with any part of this data request until I receive answers to these important questions. I am working with the Vermont Attorney General’s Office to understand all of our options, and we will take the full amount of time allotted to respond with what information that is already publically available, if any, will be provided.
“The President has used social media to ask what states have to hide about voter fraud, revealing the true purpose of this commission: to rationalize the President’s unsubstantiated claims that 3-5 Million people voted illegally in the last election. The answer to his question is quite simple: Vermont has nothing to hide. Vermont has had no complaints of voter fraud in at least a decade. If we did receive one, I would seek aggressive investigation and prosecution under the law as a serious crime and an affront to democracy.
“At best this Commission is a waste of taxpayer money, and at worst its true purpose is to champion the President’s false and baseless claims of voter fraud to aggressively pursue a campaign of voter suppression and intimidation.
“I will not compromise the security of Vermont voters’ personal data, and my office continues to explore all options available to avoid assisting this sham Commission.”
Source: Condos 7.3.2017www.sec.state.vt.us|www.facebook.com/SecretaryOfStateJimCondos|www.twitter.com/VermontSOS