Public records request of absentee ballot applications helps identify cross-overs
A political consultant requested through public records laws data on 220,000 absentee ballot applications in Michigan to figure out that about 15 percent of voters in each party have chosen to cross over and vote in the other party's primary. This is one good reason to make sure basic voter registration data is public, and it's a great story idea for journalists to pursue (depending on primary procedures in your state). See
The Associated Press story.