Public or private, what information is open to the public after elections?

(KTUU)
Published: Apr. 4, 2018 at 10:37 PM AKDT
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So far, more than 78,000 ballots have been processed for the 2018 Anchorage municipal election--a record number.

But, what many voters may not know is that personal information--including full names, physical addresses and mailing addresses--becomes a matter of public record, and is accessible to anyone who requests it.

Barbara Jones, Anchorage's Municipal Clerk, said the city election uses the State of Alaska voter registration database.

"There is certain information that is public, and that is your name, the fact that you voted is public information, your mailing address is public information," said Jones.

But, Jones said voters can designate their physical address as private.

More than 74,000 Anchorage residents provided their physical addresses in the latest database provided to KTUU and other media outlets.

Preston Matchian, an Anchorage resident, said he was surprised by the fact personal voter information is available upon request.

"With all the technology we have nowadays and the data hacking that has been in the news recently over the past couple years," Matchian expressed concern.