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COLUMN: Address confidentiality program would help keep survivors of violence safe in Michigan
RELEASE|November 12, 2019

I can only imagine the strength and courage it takes to leave an abusive relationship. Some women move across the state, switch jobs and even change their names to stay safe.

Sadly, even when survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking go to great lengths to protect themselves, they often still run the risk of their aggressors finding them through public data, like the voter registry.

That’s why I helped introduce a bipartisan plan to establish an address confidentiality program in Michigan.

The program would give participants a substitute address – usually a post office box – to use in place of their physical address. The substitute address can be used wherever an address is required by a local government, school, court or other public agency. Mail sent to the substitute address would then be forwarded to the participant’s actual address by the state.

I recently listened to several women testify in support of this plan before the House Judiciary Committee. The stories we heard are compelling and show a definite need for a program like this in Michigan.

One woman’s husband hired a contract killer to have her murdered. She survived the attack, and her husband was arrested – but she lived in constant fear that he would find out where she was living and try to have her killed again. Thankfully, her family had the means to put her lease, utilities and other services in their names. Unfortunately, she could not register to vote in her new community because a physical address was – and still is – required before a voter’s registration card can be issued.

Imagine going through the horror this woman went through only to be told that in order to keep yourself safe you must give up your right to vote.

Thirty-seven other states have address confidentiality programs to protect survivors of violence and allow them to keep their basic rights. It’s time for Michigan to do the same.

Once a survivor escapes from an abusive situation, keeping their new address a secret from their abuser can be a matter of life or death. Enacting these reforms will help keep crime victims safe and offer them some peace of mind as they rebuild their lives.

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