Minnesota’s Safe at Home Program: Address confidentiality for survivors of stalking or abuse
Recently, someone in SD59 told one of our local activists that they couldn’t vote because an ex has been stalking them and they do not want their address showing up anywhere in public information where their ex might find it. Naturally, this situation is unacceptable: this ex has not only forced his former partner to spend their life looking over their shoulder, but has in effect deprived them of their constitutional right to participate in the democratic process. There ought to be a law…
As it turns out, there is a law. Established in 2007, the Minnesota Safe at Home Program provides designated addresses and a mail-forwarding service, allowing survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or others who fear for their safety the ability to keep their actual home address confidential. This program is also used for voting, as described in MN Statutes Chapter 5B.06:
A program participant who is otherwise eligible to vote may register with the secretary of state as an ongoing absentee voter. The secretary of state shall determine the precinct in which the residential address of the program participant is located and shall request from and receive from the county auditor or other election official the ballot for that precinct and shall forward the absentee ballot to the program participant with the other materials for absentee balloting as required by Minnesota law. The program participant shall complete the ballot and return it to the secretary of state, who shall review the ballot in the manner provided by section 203B.24. If the ballot and ballot materials comply with the requirements of that section, the ballot must be certified by the secretary of state as the ballot of a program participant, and must be forwarded to the appropriate electoral jurisdiction for tabulation along with all other ballots. The name and address of a program participant must not be listed in the statewide voter registration system.
So, thanks to the hard work of the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office, we are able to help maintain the safety of survivors of assault, abuse, and stalking while maintaining their constitutional rights. Be sure to remember this program if you meet anyone who needs it.
