The Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database registers legal immigrants (more at http://bit.ly/O0dBQd). As such, it may have some limited use for states trying to purge ineligible voters off the rolls (though the fear-mongering among the GOP is usually about all those "illegals" committing voter fraud).
But it's a more interesting story is yet another example of how governmental data collection for one purpose gets shifted over to other purposes. The SAVE data was to provide immigrant status and information for the federal and state governments to determine eligibility for various benefits. That it's now being used to determine if someone is ineligible to vote is somewhat different, and would likely have required some different thinking about data gathering, updating, and retention when SAVE was being designed. And it also causes one to think about how one government database that might hold data on you for some reason you approve of might suddenly be used for another reason you would find more dubious.
That said, from what I can tell, it's fairly decent data, and with proper controls (how it will be compared to voter rolls, as well as how people will be able to appeal any problems that come from it), it should be of some use.
Embedded Link
Rick Scott, Republicans See Victory In Contentious Battle
By CHARLES BABINGTON, ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — In a victory for Republicans, the federal government has agreed to let Florida use a law enforcement database to challenge people's right to vote i…
Google+: View post on Google+
I appreciate how you add some commentary on your blog, instead of just posting a link and saying, "This is cool."
I know we all do that on G+ and can be better about it. Thanks for setting a good example.
Is it just me or does Rick Scott look frighteningly like Michael Stipe in that photo?
Thanks, +Derrick Mims – I do include the occasional "Hey, cool link!", but I do try to contribute something of my own to the mix in most cases, esp. when I have something to say (worthwhile or not).