I’ve not covered the North Carolina numbers for a variety of reasons.  One is that I suspect this story has a downward trajectory.  The usual suspects at Brennan and MSNBC are pushing the trajectory downward as they are always expected to do anytime possible election crimes are revealed.  Wouldn’t it be nice if once in a while they spoke up when it became obvious crimes actually occurred.  But that’s not why they play the game.  Objectivity isn’t their calling.

What is a concern is the voter history file in the North Carolina numbers.  Who compiled the voter history file from the other states, because that isn’t the easiest or cleanest task.  So far, no article I have found has revealed the sourcing of the voter history file.  Did someone in NC get them from the individual states?  If so, name the states of overlap.  Name the entity that got it.  No story I have read does.

Is the voter history from a national database, such that the Database Whose Name We Dare not Speak?  Doubtful it is Catalyst.  So who’s national database is it?  Who is doing the data crunching?  Who is doing the controls for name variations?  How rigorous are they?

All of these are questions I want to see answered before any significance is attached to the NC numbers. Otherwise, they will keep on their downward trajectory.

UPDATE: I’ve been told the voter history data comes from each individual state as captured by the cross state check program. Thus, I am told it is not from private databases.  The question then becomes how accurate is the voter history field.  Most places still use paper poll books.  The accuracy of the voter history files will drive how many of these folks voted twice in the 2012 election.  That error could cut both ways: false negatives in voter history as well as false positives.  Depending on the rate of turnout, the error probably comes on average more from one direction.  Despite these uncertainties, we can most likely count on two things.  First, ongoing dismissal or downplaying of criminal activity in American elections from the usual suspects cited in the MSNBC story.  Second, a total lack of prosecutions from the Public Integrity unit at DOJ for double voting.