3 ms·

This raises so many questions... Why is U.S. voter registration made public at the individual name/address level? Why do the states publish their voter regist

by pdog 9y ago

This raises so many questions... Why is U.S. voter registration made public at the individual name/address level? Why do the states publish their voter registrations in the first place? Why should private campaign operations (or anyone else) have access to this data? Shouldn't voters' privacy be protected by the states? Is there a privacy policy you can review when you register to vote?

VonGuard 9y ago
So that the two parties who voted for this to be the case can have unfettered access to their potential voters, go to their houses, send them things, and know for sure they're only hitting up people in their party, so as not to mobilize the other side. Nothing that would harm the 2-party system ever changes in the US, and nothing ever will.
- kevindqc 9y ago
  But why does it need to be public? In the US, you register with the party no? So the party you register with your information, and they can do what you said > go to their houses, send them things, and know for sure they're only hitting up people in their party, so as not to mobilize the other side.
  - nostrademons 9y ago
    Depends on the state, but in general, no. You register as a member of the party. You register with the state. Voter registration information is used to determine who's eligible to vote, and you don't necessarily need to have a party affiliation to be able to vote (I don't, for example). My guess is that it's public to avoid unfairly preferencing the major parties, so that they give at least lip service to the idea that "anyone can run for office". The U.S. is pretty sensitive about seeming like it has a fair and open political system, even if other aspects of the system mean that in practice a third party doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell.
    - kevindqc 9y ago
      Ah! I see, thanks.
  - gregshap 9y ago
    Nope, in the US you register with the state and you can optionally tell the state that you are a member of some party. You can register to vote and self-identify as 'Dem' 'Republican' etc while getting your driver's license. Aside from the public voter file update, the Democratic Party doesn't get any special notification if you pick them, and you don't need to apply or get accepted in any way.
    - kevindqc 9y ago
      Ah! I see, thanks.
maxerickson 9y ago
Independent review of voter eligibility. (Eligibility which will vary down to the smallest political divisions)

by pdog 9y ago

VonGuard 9y ago

So that the two parties who voted for this to be the case can have unfettered access to their potential voters, go to their houses, send them things, and know for sure they're only hitting up people in their party, so as not to mobilize the other side. Nothing that would harm the 2-party system ever changes in the US, and nothing ever will.

kevindqc 9y ago
But why does it need to be public? In the US, you register with the party no? So the party you register with your information, and they can do what you said > go to their houses, send them things, and know for sure they're only hitting up people in their party, so as not to mobilize the other side.
- nostrademons 9y ago
  Depends on the state, but in general, no. You register as a member of the party. You register with the state. Voter registration information is used to determine who's eligible to vote, and you don't necessarily need to have a party affiliation to be able to vote (I don't, for example). My guess is that it's public to avoid unfairly preferencing the major parties, so that they give at least lip service to the idea that "anyone can run for office". The U.S. is pretty sensitive about seeming like it has a fair and open political system, even if other aspects of the system mean that in practice a third party doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell.
  - kevindqc 9y ago
    Ah! I see, thanks.
- gregshap 9y ago
  Nope, in the US you register with the state and you can optionally tell the state that you are a member of some party. You can register to vote and self-identify as 'Dem' 'Republican' etc while getting your driver's license. Aside from the public voter file update, the Democratic Party doesn't get any special notification if you pick them, and you don't need to apply or get accepted in any way.
  - kevindqc 9y ago
    Ah! I see, thanks.

maxerickson 9y ago

Independent review of voter eligibility. (Eligibility which will vary down to the smallest political divisions)