FBI Investigates Voter Registration Practices by Accessing IP Addresses

The FBI has initiated a new approach to investigate alleged voter fraud by obtaining the IP addresses of individuals who registered to vote online. Recently, the bureau acquired the IP address of a voter in South Carolina, as reported in documents shared with Axios. This action is part of a broader federal investigation into voter registration practices, which has been influenced by ongoing claims from President Trump regarding the integrity of the 2020 election. The FBI's request for IP addresses, which was complied with by state and local officials, raises questions about the frequency and implications of such actions, especially since 43 states permit online voter registration. An IP address can indicate a user's geographic location but does not reveal their identity. Critics have labeled this federal inquiry as an intrusion, citing Trump's unsubstantiated allegations of widespread fraud. The FBI's investigation in South Carolina is part of a larger effort that includes requests for voter data from ICE in Texas and North Carolina, as well as ongoing legal actions by the Justice Department to access voter rolls from states that have resisted sharing this information. Local election officials have noted that such requests from the FBI are uncommon and have expressed concerns about the appropriateness of these actions.