A federal judge says New Mexico election regulators and prosecutors discriminated against a Republican-backed group in refusing access to voter registration rolls.

The Friday ruling bars the state from refusing to turn over voter data to Voter Reference Foundation, bolstering the group’s efforts to expand a free database of registered voters so that groups and individuals can take it upon themselves to try to find potential irregularities or fraud.

State prosecutors plan to appeal the ruling, said Lauren Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the New Mexico Department of Justice.

The VoteRef.com website recently restored New Mexico listings to its searchable database of registered voters — including street addresses, party affiliations and whether voters participated in recent elections.

  • satanmat@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    6
    ·
    3 months ago

    Public databases are public…. Yeah kinda sucks.

    But as much as I hate it; oh and I do! It is public info.

    Now, their misuse of that data needs a lawsuit or three; and I’m sadly also sure that would accomplish nothing….

      • Mcdolan@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        3 months ago

        While I agree, the flip side is records could be changed on a whim and it would be that much harder to prove they were changed.

        If you’re worried about party affiliation being used against you then register as independent. That’s the only thing kept in that record that wasn’t always available in the phone books of past times.