105 Iowa L. Rev. 1363 (2020)

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Abstract

Each election cycle, millions of Americans register with their state to exercise the most fundamental of their constitutionally-protected rights—the right to vote. As part of the registration process, states request several highly sensitive pieces of information from individual voters. Voters may be required to disclose their name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, party affiliation, and more. States, in turn, compile this data and distribute it to third parties. This distribution of voter registration data has left the American populace exposed to identity theft, stalking, election manipulation, and more. This Note suggests Congress should pass a new federal statute to curtail the distribution of voter registration data. This statute would restrict who can access voter data, the purposes for which that data can be used, and what personal information can be distributed as part of a voter record. Additionally, the law would create a national Address Confidentiality Program to ensure domestic violence victims could cast a ballot without placing themselves in danger. Lastly, the statute would mandate new data security measures, so highly personal information does not make its way into the hands of people who might use it to wreak havoc.