{"id":351456,"date":"2020-03-17T09:36:43","date_gmt":"2020-03-17T14:36:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/voting\/how-u-s-elections-work\/what-information-is-public-from-your-voting-record.html"},"modified":"2024-03-26T09:01:00","modified_gmt":"2024-03-26T14:01:00","slug":"what-information-is-public-from-your-voting-record","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/voting\/how-u-s-elections-work\/what-information-is-public-from-your-voting-record.html","title":{"rendered":"What Information From Your Voting Record Is Public?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What Information From Your Voting Record Is Public?<\/h1>\n
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\n By Sarah Williams, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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Because our voting ballots are secret, many voters believe that information about their voting record is as well. That is far from the truth<\/b>. At least some voter registration information is public unless the voter is in a class of protected people as explained below.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

Each state has laws on how much information the requestor can access. In addition, the Secretary of State page will list what confidential information is not accessible and restrictions on the purposes of the released voting information. For example, law enforcement<\/a> may access voting records when investigating potential election crimes and breaches of sensitive voter data.<\/p>\r\n

What information do state voting records contain?<\/h2>\r\n

The public information in state voting records includes, at minimum, the voter’s name, address, and party affiliation. States are free to gather additional information on the voter registration application, and some of that information may also become public.<\/p>\r\n

The table below lays out information your voting record may include.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Voting Record Information<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Examples<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Identifying information<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    \r\n
  • Date of birth<\/li>\r\n
  • Gender<\/li>\r\n
  • Father’s name or mother’s maiden name<\/li>\r\n
  • Social Security number<\/li>\r\n
  • Military ID<\/li>\r\n
  • Passport number<\/li>\r\n
  • Driver’s license number<\/li>\r\n
  • State identification card<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Address information<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    \r\n
  • Home address<\/li>\r\n
  • Mailing address<\/li>\r\n
  • Voting district<\/li>\r\n
  • Polling Place<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Contact information<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    \r\n
  • Phone number<\/li>\r\n
  • Email address<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Voting information<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    \r\n
  • Party affiliation<\/li>\r\n
  • Absentee ballot<\/li>\r\n
  • Precincts, registering agency, or required assistance<\/li>\r\n
  • Last voting date, e.g., local election or primary election<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Miscellaneous information<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n