Oklahoma Voter Data Named In Trump's Claims Of Chinese Election Interference

Oklahoma Voter Data Named In Trump's Claims Of Chinese Election Interference

Oklahoma voter data was among the information President Donald Trump claimed was obtained by China ahead of the 2020 election, after the president released newly declassified intelligence documents during a primetime address Thursday night.

Trump claimed China acquired information connected to more than 220 million U.S. voters, including records from Oklahoma and other states. Election experts and news organizations have cautioned that much of the information described—including voter names and addresses—is legally available as public record and that obtaining voter registration data is not the same as accessing voting machines or changing election results.

Oklahoma Voter Data Included In Declassified Documents

The Oklahoma voter data referenced in Trump's address was reportedly part of a much larger collection of voter information that the president said China obtained as part of efforts to influence U.S. elections.

The newly released documents are being published by the White House Election Integrity portal, which Trump announced as part of the declassification effort.

The information allegedly obtained included names, physical addresses, email addresses, phone numbers and political party affiliations. However, the Oklahoma State Election Board states that voter registration records are considered public records under the Oklahoma Open Records Act, while voter registration data maintained by the state is stored in an encrypted database on a secure State Election Board server.

Trump's claims have also drawn scrutiny from national news organizations and election experts. The Associated Press reported that the president did not provide evidence that foreign interference changed vote totals or altered the outcome of the 2020 election, while CBS News noted that U.S. intelligence agencies previously concluded foreign powers did not interfere with ballots or vote counting.

Access To Voter Records Does Not Mean Votes Were Changed

A key distinction in the debate involves the difference between obtaining voter registration information and gaining access to systems that cast or count votes.

Some voter information is legally available to authorized users and, in Oklahoma, voter registration records are considered public records. The Oklahoma State Election Board oversees elections statewide and supervises the state's 77 county election boards, which administer elections at the local level.

Election security experts have emphasized that possessing voter information does not provide the ability to change a physical ballot, alter a vote total or remotely control voting equipment. National fact-checking following Trump's address also noted that previous intelligence assessments found no foreign country changed vote totals or manipulated ballots in the 2020 presidential election.

Oklahoma Election Security Remains Separate From Data Claims

For Oklahoma voters, the allegations involving voter information are separate from the security measures used to cast and count ballots in the state.

Oklahoma maintains a statewide election system overseen by the State Election Board, with election administration carried out through all 77 counties. The state's election procedures include physical ballots and established processes for securing, counting and certifying votes.

The distinction is important as the newly declassified documents receive national attention: Trump's claim centers on China allegedly obtaining voter information, while the information released so far does not establish that Oklahoma election results or vote totals were altered.

The White House is continuing to release documents related to its election interference claims, while election officials and national security experts continue reviewing what the newly declassified material shows—and what conclusions can be drawn from it.

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