Mailing Assistance Grants Available to New ERIC Participants

The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) is a sophisticated interstate data exchange that harnesses cutting-edge technology to promote more comprehensive and accurate voter rolls. ERIC alerts election officials about voters whose information might be out of date or who may be eligible but unregistered to vote. The Pew Charitable Trusts is inviting new members and states considering joining ERIC to apply for grants to help defray the cost of their initial outreach, which includes bulk mail service, provider charges, and postage.

In accordance with ERIC’s bylaws, member states must contact citizens identified as eligible but not registered to vote and educate them on the most efficient means of registering. Such outreach has substantial benefits for the efficiency and integrity of the voter registration process but can involve significant costs. The Pew grants help to mitigate those for new ERIC states. In 2014, four states—Connecticut, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Oregon—received grants to conduct their initial mailings. Fifteen states applied for grants in 2015.