soapbox

Von Spakovsky says that argument rings hollow given what states constantly do with the same information.

“The information we asked for is information that all of these states routinely sell to candidates and political parties. So why they think they shouldn’t give it to this commission looking at election integrity, I don’t really understand,” said von Spakovsky, who contends the federal government has every right to see the same records.

So why don't they just buy the records? Magazines such as campaigns and elections have ads for list brokers. Getting at least the gop lists should be easy. I don't know whether Trump can get his hands on the Democrats' databases, perhaps by buying it from someone with access.

Successful campaigns build dossiers on each voter. They know when they voted, how many square feet in their house, whether they have a fireplace. From 100 integrated data points like that, they can predict, with some accuracy, how subsets of voters are likely to vote, and how they may respond ot a mailing or tv spot or tweet. These models don't tell you how the inividual voter will vote, but over a population they can have predictive vaidity.

So the data the commission wants is already in private hands, and can be accessed, sometimes, for cash. Each team considers its model proprietary, and was expensive to build, but trade secrets tend to leak.

And now a word from our sponsor: Last time I checked,which was many years ago, I could get you a copy of Indiana's voting records and voting lists for $5000, by giving a 5K check to our party chair, who gives it to the secretary of state, who gives them the lists and data. They make a copy, we get a copy. We have a new party chair who is hostile to me, so I can't promise you this trick still works.
I will refund your $5K if I can't get the list.