LEE COUNTY, Fla. — If you've ever received unsolicited calls or mail and wondered how they ended up with your information, there's one common way that happens every time you vote.
"Sometimes they send information to pets and deceased people. That really confuses voters and I can understand that," said Tommy Doyle, Lee County's Supervisor of Elections.
He says third parties can get that information off your voter registration form and you can find what gets shared to the public on your application.
Doyle says it's great for voter outreach and education, but there's always that possibility it can get into the wrong hands.
"Candidates use that information to campaign. They can buy a subscription from us at our office that we send with updated information so they can reach out to the voters to get their message out."
In Lee County, for a fee up to $75, it allows access to every registered voter's details, like your address, phone number, and party affiliation.
It doesn't show your vote or any important ID numbers listed for your driver's license and social security.
If you prefer more privacy, some ways help.
Doyle says your registration doesn’t require a number or email, but it is helpful if there’s an issue with your vote. He says you can add it when you cast your ballot instead.
"At the end of the election, it could slow things down but on our ballots, we give them the opportunity to fill that information in on our envelopes. You can send that and most people do put their email address and phone numbers. We do call them and email them if there’s a deficiency.”
If you’re voting by mail, he says that information goes on the envelope and from there you can do one of two things. Voters can put it in another plain envelope and pay postage or they can put it directly into a ballot drop-off box.
"If you get a magazine or credit card, a lot of your information is out there anyway and it’s the same information that’s on our registration system, so it’s really tough to hide.”
In Florida, there is one way to request privacy on registration records. It’s called protected address and it’s only available for certain career fields, such as judges, attorneys, and members of law enforcement.
To find more voter information and resources for Lee County residents, click here.
