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VotePower
VotePower is a ground-breaking initiative aimed at increasing battered women's participation in the voting process. In addition to the major obstacles battered women confront in escaping violence and rebuilding their lives, these women also face distinct barriers that prevent them from voting. Since stalking is common in domestic violence situations, victims have extraordinary needs for safety and confidentiality. Because voter registration is public record, victims of domestic violence may hesitate to register to vote or take any other steps that would allow their address to be available to the public.
By working with state domestic violence coalitions, local domestic violence programs and other allies, NNEDV has implemented voter mobilization campaigns addressing voter cofidentiality, voter registration, voter contact and safe GOTV efforts for battered women. Empowering battered women through the voting process represents a major success in efforts to increase civic participation among marginalized groups.
If you are a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking and have a heightened need for confidentiality, please contact the VotePower Project at (202) 543-5566 or submit an email message through our Contact Us page.
Register to Vote:
Voter registration is public record. Before you register to vote, please assess your safety and confidentiality needs. Address Confidentiality Programs (ACP) throughout the country will allow you to register to vote without including your contact information in public record.
If you do not wish to enroll in a confidentiality program, you can register to vote by downloading a voter registration form from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. Simply print the form, fill in the blanks and mail it before your state's deadline.
Voter Confidentiality Programs
Voter registration is public record and can be accessed by almost anyone. While access is sometimes limited to political parties or candidates, journalists and academia, a study conducted by The California Voter Foundation indicates that 22 states have unrestricted access to voter records.
Since stalking is common in domestic violence situations, victims have a heightened need for safety and confidentiality. Victims will take extreme measures to ensure their contact information is not included in public record. For victims who know that voter registration is public record, they choose to give up their right to vote in order to enhance their personal safety. Those that do not know that voter registration is public record could unknowingly put themselves in danger.
Address Confidentiality Programs (ACP) and Confidential Voter Listings are programs administered by the state enabling victims of domestic violence (and sometimes victims of sexual assault and/or stalking) to participate in the voting process without fear of being found by their abusers. ACPs generally provide a substitute address for all public records. Confidential Voter Listings only provide confidentiality on election-related public records. Currently, 28 states provide these life-saving options. Below is a list of existing confidentiality programs. Please note that while legislation has been passed in each of these states to create Address Confidentiality Programs, state funding may limit program availability.
Arizona: (602) 364-4700
Arkansas: (510) 682-7052
California: (877) 322-5227
Connecticut: (860) 509-6000
Florida: (800) 226-6667
Indiana: (800) 321-1907
Kansas: (785) 296-3806
Louisiana: (225) 925-4792
Maine: (207) 626-8400
Maryland: (800) 633-9657 x3875
Massachusetts: (866) 723-3233
Minnesota: (651) 201-1334
Missouri: (866) 509-1409
Montana: (406) 443-7794
Nebraska: (402) 471-2555
Nevada: (888) 432-6189
New Hampshire: (800) 300-4500
New Jersey: (877) 218-9133
New Mexico:
North Carolina: (919) 716-6785
Oklahoma: (405) 557-1700
Oregon: (503) 373-1323
Pennsylvania: (800) 563-6399
Rhode Island:
Vermont: (800) 439-8683
Virginia: (703) 228-4410
Washington: (800) 822-1065
Wisconsin: (608) 266-8005
For more information about these confidentiality programs and other ways to enhance your safety during the voting process, please contact VotePower at (202) 543-5566.