Lawmakers may restrict access to voter details

Key information about Florida voters could soon be made secret to the news media, researchers and the general public, but not political parties or committees.

A bill introduced by state Rep. Cyndi Stevenson, R-St. Augustine, is opposed by a key open-government advocate for its sweeping restrictions to information that has been publicly available for 20 years.

this information isn’t available, media and research institutions won’t be able to do any type of oversight,” said Barbara Petersen, president of the Tallahassee-based First Amendment Foundation. “This would preempt that completely.”

Stevenson, however, said she was concerned about privacy issues after talking to constituents whose personal information is online.

“It’s not OK for people to feel like they have to choose between exercising the right to vote, or becoming a member of the party of their choice, and their privacy,” Stevenson said. “That’s how I know we’re not doing a good enough job.”

The addresses and birth dates of registered voters in Florida are available to anyone who makes a public records request, whether to the Division of State or a county supervisor of elections. Phone numbers and email addresses, which voters have the option of voluntarily provid“If