DES MOINES, Iowa - Brad Anderson, candidate for Iowa Secretary of State, today releases a policy aimed at protecting survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault, called Safe at Home.
"Everyone deserves a voice. A survivor of domestic abuse or sexual violence should be able to register to vote, cast a ballot, and go about daily life without fear for safety," said Brad Anderson. "This is a policy that's long overdue in Iowa. We're one of only 15 states that has not taken the common sense step of creating an address confidentiality program to protect the safety of survivors. As Secretary of State, I'll change that."
Anderson announced the policy at a press conference this afternoon, joined by Tiffany Allison, a victim's advocate and survivor of domestic abuse.
"I'm glad to see Brad Anderson taking leadership on this issue. This is a common sense solution to a problem that far too many Iowans face," said Allison. "Brad's Safe at Home plan will give survivors in Iowa an extra level of security by helping them keep their home address private, while still being able to freely participate in everyday life, including by casting their ballot without fear."
Similar to other address confidentiality programs across the nation, Anderson's Safe at Home plan gives participants a substitute address that can be used instead of the survivor's home address when filling out forms. Staff in the Secretary of State's office then securely forwards mail sent to the substitute address to the participant's confidential home address.
Collaborate with victim service providers and law enforcement. Victim service providers are on the front lines of responding to domestic violence and sexual assault, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of survivors. Anderson will collaborate with these organizations to finalize a Safe at Home program that addresses concerns specific to Iowa.
Provide a substitute address to survivors. Survivors who register with the program will be provided with a substitute address that can be used on all official documents for state and local agencies. This address is a P.O. Box that is administered securely by the Secretary of State's office, who will be responsible for collecting mail sent to program participants at this address.
Securely forward mail to Safe at Home participants actual addresses. All first-class mail that is sent to the participant's Safe at Home address will be forwarded at no charge to the actual physical address of the participant. Actual addresses will be kept under tight security in the Secretary of State's office to ensure they remain confidential.
Ensuring access to voting. The Safe at Home program will allow voters to register confidentially at their substitute address. The Secretary of State's office will assign a voter code to participants to register to vote and will notify county auditors of the registration. To ensure information is protected, county auditors will not be given the actual physical address of program participants. Program participants will be mailed an absentee ballot request form. If requested, an absentee ballot will be mailed by the county auditor to the substitute address administered by the Secretary of State's office. Anderson has also proposed optional permanent vote by mail, which, if passed, forms would be made available to program participants as part of the registration process.
Educate participants about the scope of the program. While the Safe at Home program takes major steps to ensure the privacy of survivors, the Secretary of State's office will also provide ongoing education about what the program does and does not do. Participants will be reminded that address confidentiality is only one piece of a comprehensive plan for their safety and be updated on how to ensure their address remains confidential.
