The Washington Post reports on the federal lawsuit aimed at preventing collection of state voter data being sought by a commission appointed by Donald Trump.

As arguments continue, it is noted that Arkansas alone among the states has provided some of the data sought. I think that tells you everything you know about where Arkansas Secretary of State Mark Martin stands relative to balancing the vote-suppression aims of his friend Kris Kobach, Kansas secretary of state and vice chair of Trump’s ad hoc commission, and the privacy interests of Arkansas voters.

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I doubt Martin has done anything actionable. The data he supplied the commission is available to the public and sold regularly to political and other interests for $2.50. The Arkansas Times obtained it last week and, by way of illustrating contents, showed yesterday the data contained on Mark Martin himself.


Still, hurrying to provide the information with the controversy and legal challenge underway seems a friendly response to government overreach. Gov. Asa Hutchinson didn’t object to Martin’s compliance (Arkansas didn’t include some information Kobach wanted but which is not in Martin’s possession including partial Social Security numbers and driver license information.) Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, normally a foe of “government overreach,” has been silent.

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