Texas has officially withdrawn from the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a multi-state partnership designed to combat voter fraud. This move makes Texas the ninth Republican-led state and the largest to leave the program since 2022. The withdrawal, effective in 91 days, follows growing skepticism among Texas Republicans about ERIC's funding and objectives, fueled by circulating conspiracy theories. Other Republican-led states have also cited various reasons for their departure, indicating they are working on alternative systems.

According to a spokesperson for the Texas Secretary of State, the decision was driven in part by anticipated cost increases for remaining members as participation dwindles. While Texas currently has no immediate plans to join a different system, the state is actively researching other options for maintaining accurate voter rolls.

Texas joins a growing list of states that have recently left ERIC, including Louisiana (the first to withdraw), Alabama, Florida, West Virginia, Missouri, Ohio, Iowa, and Virginia. In Kentucky, Secretary of State Michael Adams, a Republican, is evaluating his state's options despite a court order mandating participation. Adams expressed concerns about data sharing with states outside of ERIC, particularly given the departure of several neighboring states and Florida, a popular retirement destination for Kentuckians.

The efficacy of interstate data-sharing agreements is also under scrutiny. New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver declined an invitation from Ohio to explore a separate agreement, emphasizing the complexity and time investment required to establish secure data-sharing protocols, a process already addressed within ERIC. Multiple Democratic officials remain committed to ERIC and hope to attract larger states like California and New York, which are not currently members. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson recently reaffirmed her support for ERIC, highlighting the program's effectiveness compared to previous unsuccessful attempts at interstate collaboration.