FBI joins probe of reported online sale of voter lists

Oregon Secretary of State Dennis Richardson said the FBI has joined in the investigation of a business that reportedly is selling the voter rolls of 19 states, including Oregon’s, on the internet.

Richardson said a press release from Anomali Labs stated that Oregon’s voter registration list is one of 19 states’ voter lists allegedly being sold on the internet.

The voter information supposedly being sold on the internet is publicly available through the Secretary of State Elections Division. Anyone may obtain the list for a fee of $500, however, they must agree to the following:

“By signing below you agree not to use the statewide voter list … for commercial purposes in accordance with ORS 247.955.”

Richardson said took immediate action in response to this claim.

“My office has requested assistance on this matter from both the FBI and the Oregon Attorney General’s internet crimes unit,” he said. “Oregonians need to know that the release and use of publicly available voter registration information has no impact on the security and validity of Oregon’s elections.”

On a related note, Oregonians have until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday to register to vote or update their registration to get a mail ballot for the Nov. 6 election.