COLUMBUS – Victims of domestic violence, stalking and other crimes could have their address shielded from use by government agencies under proposed Ohio legislation.
The bill, presented Wednesday, would allow victims worried about attackers tracking them down to apply for a confidential address from the Ohio Secretary of State, which could be used to register to vote or for any business with a government agency such as a city water department, school or public university.
The Secretary of State’s office would forward mail to the real address daily.
“This is going to give you another avenue to be able to create safety for yourself and your children in a way that we have not been able to do before in this state,” said Ohio Domestic Violence Network Executive Director Nancy Neylon.
Under Ohio law, the address a voter uses on their registration is a public record, logged in their county’s voter rolls and reported to Husted’s office for inclusion in the Statewide Voter Database, Secretary of State Jon Husted said. Victims’ advocates say victims of violent crimes frequently do not register to vote for fear that their attacker may be able to locate and harm them, he says.
“The great thing about technology is that it’s made it easy to find people; the bad thing about technology is that it’s made it easy to find people,” Husted said during a news conference announcing the legislation.
Bill co-sponsor Mike Duffey (R-Worthington) says he’d also like to extend the confidentiality to government-regulated entities like electric utilities.
Victims of sexual assault and human trafficking could also apply.
Anne Gonzales (R-Westerville) co-sponsored the House legislation and a companion measure is to be introduced in the Senate sponsored by Senators Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering) and Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland).