AP15:133
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 29, 2015
CONTACT: Sam Mahood
(916) 653-6575
Secretary of State Alex Padilla Statement on Voter File Data
California Secretary of State Alex Padilla has issued the following statement:
“Our office is aware of media reports which indicate that national voter information, including the information of some California voters, has allegedly been posted online in an insecure manner by an unknown third party. We are working to verify these claims.”
“The voter records described in recent media reports were not posted online by the California Secretary of State.”
“We are in communication with the California Attorney General’s office and stand ready to provide any assistance necessary.”
Under state law, the voter file is confidential and cannot be made available to the public or used for any personal, private, or commercial purpose. However, state law authorizes the voter file to be provided for use for political, election, scholarly, journalistic, or governmental purposes.
Voter file information, released pursuant to a lawful request, does not include signatures, social security numbers, state identification card or driver’s license information. Voter file information for certain public safety officers and voters who register to vote under the Safe at Home program—which protects reproductive health care providers, victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and stalking—is never released to any public request.
###
Follow the California Secretary of State on Twitter and Facebook.
