Ada Reporter

Voter data from Idaho has been added to an online voter registration database, with the purpose of increasing voter transparency.

The Voter Reference Foundation (VRF) has added Idaho to VoteRef.com in mid January 2022. The goal of the online voter registration database is to increase transparency by maintaining an updated file of registered voters and their most accurate information. 

“By providing the public with access to the nation’s voter rolls and illuminating discrepancies in the data, VRF is making the public aware that there is much work to be done to ensure the voter rolls are accurate and up-to-date," Gina Swoboda, executive director of the Voter Reference Foundation, said in a release.

Idaho was the 14th state to be added to the database behind Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin. The site has a goal to complete the database with all 50 states by the end of 2022.

There is reportedly a wide range of discrepancy among states, VRF states in its release. The discrepancy in the state of Idaho is 11,147 votes. Yet, in Michigan the discrepancy is 74,135 and in North Carolina it is 42. Idaho's discrepancy number is one worth investigating, VRF states, as it covers greater than 1% of the recorded votes in the 2022 general election.

“Seeing a discrepancy in excess of 10,000 in Idaho illustrates why our efforts and attention to voter rolls and elections data is so essential,” Swoboda said. She and the foundation believe the restoration of faith in our elections will ensue once full election transparency is obtained.

Through the reviewing of certified election data, the database has the ability to show the discrepancy between number of voters and number of casted votes. Detected discrepancies indicate the need for better record keeping and accountability.