Victims of Violence Information Should be Confidential in Voting, Says DeLauro

Victims of Violence Information Should be Confidential in Voting, Says DeLauro

- Attackers Can Trace Victims through Voter Rolls -

WASHINGTON, D.C. - As Election Day approaches, Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) today said that contact information of victims of violence should be kept confidential and only accessible to election officials. DeLauro learned during last year's elections that many victims of violence fear registering to vote because their abusers could track them through voter rolls.

"Victims of violence have already experienced trauma, and should not be further terrorized by the possibility that their abusers can obtain contact information through voter rolls," said DeLauro. "States must keep voter registration lists confidential so that the democratic process is not out of reach for victims of violence."

Even though some states have confidentiality programs, the National Network to End Domestic Violence has found that most women, and even many state officials, do not know those programs exist so they are not used. This fear can prevent women from registering to vote and participating in the democratic process.

The legislation, called the Victims of Violence Confidentiality Act, amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002. It requires states to keep confidential the address of any registered voter who has a protective order to protect him/her from domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or who has an affidavit stating that he/she is a victim of one of those crimes. It also maintains that any other registered voter living at that address (such as a son or daughter) will also have his/her address kept confidential.

The legislation requires states to come into compliance with the law by January 1, 2006.

http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/2005/November/voting_confidentiality_11_03_05.html