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Voters’ addresses
are public record

Question: Isn't voting strictly confidential? So, why did I receive a call from someone's campaign because I was an absentee voter? How in the world did they get this information -- my name and telephone number? The state Office of Elections could not give me any answer except that they acknowledged confidentiality.

Answer: How you vote is kept confidential, but the names and addresses of registered voters are open fodder.

"By state law, that information is all considered public record," explained Honolulu City Clerk Denise DeCosta, whose office is in charge of overseeing voting on Oahu.

However, no "personal information," such as Social Security numbers or telephone numbers, is given out, she said.

Under Sec. 11-97 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, it says, "A voter's full name, district/precinct designation, and voter status shall be public; but all other personal information, as provided on the voter registration affidavit, shall be confidential except for election or government purposes in accordance with rules adopted by the chief election officer."

Although that section, as well as 2-51-31 of the Hawaii Administrative Rules, which deals with voter registration information, do not specify addresses, DeCosta said addresses are considered part of the public record.

State law allows you to ask a county clerk to keep your address confidential, but that usually entails showing an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy or risk of bodily harm to you or a family member if the address is revealed.

As to why you received a phone call noting that you have been an absentee voter, DeCosta said phone numbers can be purchased from private "services" that have compiled publicly listed numbers.

She noted that both the state Democratic and Republican parties had purchased the city's databases for Oahu's overall voter registration list, as well as the list of those who had requested absentee ballots.

The fee for obtaining a voter registration data file is $250. "It has to be for an elections purpose or a legitimate government purpose," DeCosta said of requests for copies of the data.

For example, the Honolulu Liquor Commission requires applicants for liquor licenses to provide it with a list of registered voters within a 500-foot radius of their establishments, as well as a list, from among the registered voters, of those who received notices of a license application.

The voter registration lists "cannot be used for commercial purposes," DeCosta said.

Calls from political organizations are not restricted by the National Do Not Call Registry.

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