Secretary of State Criticized for Database Linking Voters to Public Assistance

Secretary of state apologizes for sharing list labeling thousands as public assistance applicants

South Dakota’s secretary of state is taking responsibility for the release of sensitive voter registration data, after her office published a spreadsheet that labeled thousands of residents as having registered to vote at government assistance agencies. “As Secretary of State, I take full responsibility for the release of this information. My office is committed to both transparency and protecting voter privacy,” Secretary of State Monae Johnson…

Secretary of State criticized for database linking voters to public assistance

The ACLU of South Dakota says the information puts the office squarely in violation of state and federal laws.

SD Secretary Of State Apologizes For Sharing List Labeling Thousands As Public Assistance Applicants

South Dakota’s secretary of state is taking responsibility for the release of sensitive voter registration data, after her office published a spreadsheet that labeled thousands of residents as having registered to vote at government assistance agencies.

Secretary of State's Office apologizes for identifying welfare recipients

The Secretary of State’s Office apologized Friday for unintentionally releasing the identities of people potentially on government assistance programs, a violation of federal and state privacy laws.The information was included when Johnson’s office sought to comply with a new state law requiring the secretary of state to make the statewide voter registration list available to the public free of charge and accessible via her office’s web site. Pr…