Related: Ohio will not give private voter data to Trump 2016 election commission
The commission, chaired by Kansas Secretary of State Kris W. Kobach, is tasked with finding evidence to support Trump’s claim that widespread voter fraud exists.
“When your work is completed, I believe that you will conclude as I have that voter fraud exists, it is rare and we should take reasonable measures to prevent it and hold violators accountable,” Husted wrote to Kobach.
For a copy of Husted's letter, click here.
Husted has conducted reviews following the last three federal elections of claims of election fraud or voter suppression. Ohio officials identified 820 irregularities and referred 336 of those to prosecutors for investigation. They also found 821 non-citizens on Ohio’s voter rolls, of which 126 cast ballots.
In the letter, Husted recommended that the federal government help pay for new voting equipment and give states access to data on non-citizens who hold Social Security numbers.
The panel on June 28 asked all 50 states to provide voter information, including voting history, military status, felony convictions, dates of birth, party affiliation and more. The request sparked a backlash from secretaries of state, many of whom refused to provide the data.
The voting panel, which includes former Ohio secretary of state J. Kenneth Blackwell, met for the first time on July 19. Trump questioned the motives of states that have balked at providing information, suggesting they had something to hide.
Related: Trump says he wants voter fraud commission to have open mind
Trump won the electoral vote but Democrat Hillary Clinton won the popular vote in the 2016 presidential election. Trump convened the commission after claiming on Twitter and in meetings with lawmakers that voter fraud cost him the 2016 popular vote, despite past studies showing voter fraud is exceedingly rare.
Information from the Associated Press is included in this report.
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