MADISON, Wisconsin (WXOW) - The ACLU of Wisconsin is asking state officials not to release the personal information of anyone who signed a recall petition, saying the information could endanger victims of domestic violence.
However, the information on most of the recall petitions has already been made public.
The GAB posted all scanned recall petitions online Tuesday, and at least one group is using the information to create a searchable database to make it easier to find a specific person. And that's what has the ACLU most concerned. The ACLU says it's the government's responsibility to protect confidential electors -- those who are protected under a state law keeping potentially harmful information off of public documents.
The ACLU says state law protects the privacy rights of victims of domestic violence and stalking, and that protection should also be applied to the recall petitions. The GAB doesn't plan on putting together a searchable database, but an independent group of volunteers called "Verify the Recall" is in the process of compiling its own database. A volunteer with "Verify the Recall" says they haven't been contacted by any groups concerned with privacy.
