Contact:
Warren Slocum
Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
Phone: (650) 363-4988 Fax: (650) 363-1903 E-mail: wslocum@smcare.org

lternate:
David Tom
Phone: (650) 312.5222 E-mail: dtom@smcare.org

New Legislation Authorizes Voter Confidentiality Program to Protect Public Safety Officials

(Redwood City, CA)  Today, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors authorized the County’s participation in an expanded voter registration confidentiality program for “public safety officials” for whom a life-threatening circumstance affects themselves or a member of their family.  Established by California Elections Code 2166.7, which took effect in 2007 (Senate Bill 506, Chapter 446, Statutes of 2006), the program expands the list of occupations included in the class of  “public safety official”:  Active or Retired Peace Officers; State, County, and City Attorneys assigned to criminal cases; specified employees of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation who supervise inmates or are required to have custody of a prisoner; and State and Federal Judges and Court Commissioners.

The program allows the official to submit an application form that attests to existence of the life-threatening circumstance and provides a mailing address to be used in lieu of a residence address on the voter registration roll. The protection is available for up to two years, renewable upon re-application. During that period, the voter must vote by mail.

A County may participate in the new program only upon the authorization of its Board of Supervisors. San Mateo County’s Chief Elections Officer, Warren Slocum, submitted the authorization request. “This program is an important and appropriate measure to help protect the public servants whose work safeguards our community despite the potential for risk of harm to them or to members of their families.”

This program joins existing protections available for Elected Officials, victims of domestic violence and stalking, and providers of reproductive health care services. In general, existing laws protect every voter by shielding certain information provided on the registration affidavit:  Driver’s license number or state ID number, Social Security number, unique Voter Registration ID number, and signature. 

However, some other voter registration information may be disclosed by a County Elections Official, but only to qualified requesters who file an application and appropriate proof of identity and purpose. Eligible requesters include candidates for public office, ballot measure committees, or groups or individuals seeking to use the information for Election, scholarly, journalistic, political, or government purposes. Some of the information available to requesters is the voter’s name, residential or mailing address, telephone number, date and place of birth, and political affiliation, among other data.

San Mateo County Elections Chief Warren Slocum explained, “We are mindful and protective stewards of the voter registration roll.  Commercial use of voter registration information is prohibited by law and a misdemeanor.  No one—including qualified requesters—is entitled to information about a voter’s Driver's License or Social Security number or personal signature.” 

San Mateo County Sheriff Greg Munks welcomed the Board’s action.  “I appreciate the leadership of the State Legislature, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and our Chief Elections Officer Warren Slocum in implementing this program today. It will give peace of mind to those who dedicate their lives to fighting crime and making our communities safe.