Early voters’ data taken off Internet

Dan Kulin

Monday, Aug. 30, 2004 | 11:05 a.m.

The Clark County Election Department stopped putting voters' addresses and phone numbers on the Internet on Friday, saying they hope the change will alleviate concerns about privacy and identity theft.

Voter information -- such as party affiliation, address and sometimes a phone number -- is public information available through the Election Department. This election cycle, the county department for the first time also made that information available through its Web site.

But some complained about the ease with which their address and telephone number could be accessed.

"Our intent in posting the voter data files on our Web site was to make it more convenient for anyone interested in this information to receive it," county Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax said in a prepared statement.

Often political campaigns use such information to help them identify which voters to target and how to reach them, he said.

"However, the issues raised are legitimate and we do not want our actions to deter an individual from voting," Lomax said.

So while the information remains public and available to anyone who requests it, addresses and phone numbers are no longer available on the Web site.

Bob Mohrs, 61, a truck driver from Las Vegas, said after he voted Sunday that he was glad his address and phone number won't end up on the Election Department Web site.

"There's just so many problems with the Internet," he said, adding that putting his personal information out "for the world to see" made it too easy for someone with bad intentions to find another's personal information.

Others said the department seemed to go overboard with its response.

"If they really want the information they can still get it," Denise Fernandez said shortly after voting Sunday at the Las Vegas Outlet Center.

"Some people are just paranoid. If you don't want to talk to somebody, just close the door when they come," she said.

Summer Mudd, 26, of Las Vegas, said she didn't care if her address and phone number were on the Election Department Web site because that information is so readily available elsewhere, such as in the telephone book.

"What difference does it make anyway? When you buy a house, or a car, or get a grocery card, your information gets out there. ... You even have to pay to stay out of the phone book," she said.

The three were among the thousands of Clark County voters who took advantage of early voting for the Sept. 7 primary election.

Through Sunday, early voting polls throughout the county had seen 40,641 voters, including 5,034 on Saturday, which was the second highest total since the first day of early voting on Aug. 21, when more than 5,100 people voted.

There are 598,929 active registered voters in Clark County, meaning about 6 percent had voted early through Saturday.

The last day of early voting is Friday, and if the current pace continues, the final numbers of early voters should top the last two primaries.

Just 42,904 people voted early in the 2000 primary, and more than 58,000 people voted early in the 2002 primary.