Analyzing Election Integrity: The Introduction of ELLY and Psephos by Dr. John W. “Rick” Richards Jr. and John W. Richards III
A new election software program called EagleAI, created by Dr. John W. “Rick” Richards Jr. and his son, John W. Richards III, is being promoted to help officials and activists identify inaccurate voter registrations before the 2024 election. The program has received mixed reviews from election experts and activists who have tried it. Now, the father-son duo is introducing two new programs, ELLY and Psephos, to state election officials in Missouri, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Georgia, where Trump allies hold a majority on the State Election Board.
ELLY and Psephos, like EagleAI, utilize public records such as obituaries, U.S. Postal Service data, property tax information, and Google maps to cross-reference voter registrations. ELLY is targeted at county officials and led by Richards Jr., while Psephos is aimed at state-level officials and managed by Richards III. These programs are part of a growing trend of activist groups and programs attempting to verify election results and voter rolls following false claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election.
Despite the need for accurate voter information, platforms like ELLY and Psephos may face challenges due to outdated data, high false positive rates, privacy concerns, and unverified accuracy claims. Publicly available data used by these programs may not be as reliable as the sensitive information held by government entities, such as Social Security and driver's license numbers, which are crucial for maintaining accurate voter rolls.
The creators of ELLY have proposed providing volunteer support to help officials review voter registrations in compliance with federal and state laws. These volunteers, whose identities are not specified, would assist counties at no cost, offering a cost-effective solution for resource-strapped offices. The Richards duo has been actively pitching their programs to election officials in various states, including Missouri, Rhode Island, and North Carolina, with mixed responses from officials.
In conclusion, the introduction of ELLY and Psephos by Dr. John W. “Rick” Richards Jr. and John W. Richards III aims to address concerns about inaccurate voter registrations and election integrity. However, the reliance on public records and potential privacy risks may pose challenges in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of these programs. As state election officials consider adopting these new tools, the debate over safeguarding voter information and maintaining trust in elections continues to be a critical issue in the electoral process.