New study identifies more voter registration problems and higher numbers of unregistered voters

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Errors in U.S. voter registration data, as well as the number of unregistered American voters, are worse than previously reported, according to analysis by leading political data solutions provider TargetSmart Communications, LLC.

TargetSmart CEO Drew Brighton applauded Pew's research on rampant voter data quality issues and unregistered voters. "The Pew Study is an extremely important one, and long overdue," Brighton said. "We also know that the problems with voter data are more pervasive."

According to TargetSmart's analysis, the Pew study underreported the number of problem voter records by nearly 20 million records. Among U.S voters, TargetSmart found:

• Approximately 9.5 million people (5.1%) have active registrations in more than one state
• About 24 million records (13%) have incorrect addresses, meaning either the voters moved or errors in the information make it unlikely any mailings can reach them
• Roughly 1.4 million deceased individuals (0.8% of U.S. voters) are listed as active voters

TargetSmart also identified more Americans not registered to vote. The Pew study estimates the number of unregistered people in the voting age population at 51 million; however, TargetSmart says the number is even higher: 63 million.

In combination, voter data issues and additional unregistered voters impact more than 35 million voter records across the country, or nearly 1 in every 5 voter records.

Brighton said, "The differences in the numbers can be attributed to the source data on which the Pew study depended, how often that data has been updated, and the sophistication of the information products used to assess the data quality."  Brighton went on, "Unlike other data providers, TargetSmart leverages proprietary referential matching repositories built using billions of rows of historical data, compiled over decades, to specifically support record linkage across a variety of commercial industries. These industry leading techniques give us better and more accurate results"

TargetSmart has been identifying and correcting problem data issues for our clients since the company was founded in 2006. TargetSmart's focus has been serving the organizations that depend on communicating with voters—to register individuals, raise funds, conduct opinion research, to inform and persuade voters, or to simply remind voters to get out and vote.

For more information, contact TargetSmart Communications, LLC at 410-695-4753.

Media Contact: Drew Brighton TargetSmart Communications, LLC, 410-695-4753, drew.brighton@targetsmartcommunications.com

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SOURCE TargetSmart Communications, LLC

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