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Follow these tips to protect your PII

The night air is getting cooler. Midterm elections are approaching. That means it’s voter registration season. Which makes me nervous as hell. A few years ago, 150 voter registration cards were stolen from the car of a Democratic Party worker in Spokane, Washington. (They were found in some bushes.) More recently, 75,000 registration cards containing voters’ names, addresses and Social Security numbers were found in an Atlanta trash bin. Yikes. For citizens of a democracy, registering to vote is among our most important civic rites (after voting itself). It’s also a bonanza for identity thieves. The opportunity for bungling is immense. Worse, the Federal Trade Commission warns, identity thieves use the pretext of voter registration to steal credit card numbers and other private information. “The fact remains that you’re handing over a document to someone with your Social Security number on it,” says Joan Dehne, co-chair for voter services for the League of Women Voters in Charleston, South Carolina. “Identity theft is something that we all need to be cognizant of and pay attention to.” Here are some ways to protect yourself:

• Register in person at your local board of elections or BMV office. Some states allow online registrations. Or obtain registration cards at most public buildings, especially libraries.
• To learn where to register and whether a Social Security number is required in your state, check the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. Most states accept the National Mail Voter Registration Form, available here.
• If someone asks you to register to vote, be careful. Do you know their organization? How will they keep your Social Security number private?

“The bottom line for the public is if someone is coming to your door and asking for your information, ask them a lot of questions,” says Matthew Damschroder, director of the board of elections in Franklin County, Ohio, which includes Columbus. “Or better yet, take the form and put a stamp on it and mail it in yourself.”   Adam Levin –is chairman and cofounder of Identity Theft 911 and Credit.com. His experience as former director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs gives him unique insight into consumer privacy, legislation and financial advocacy. He is a nationally recognized expert on identity theft and credit.

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