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The Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office is highlighting the success of expanding the state’s Safe at Home Program.
Secretary of State Michael Adams says since the Kentucky General Assembly passed legislation at his request to expand the commonwealth’s Address Confidentiality Program, use in the program increased by 460 percent in the first year.
“We know that government is supposed to be transparent, and it should be, but we can’t allow abusers to use the transparency of government to stalk and harass and further abuse their victims,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith.
Smith said the program is an added layer of protection for victims of abuse.
“It provides them an opportunity to hide their residency from public view on documents up to and including their voting record, and so someone would be able to register to vote here in Hardin County but we would obscure their address from any potential abuser who would use Kentucky’s open record laws to try and track that person down,” Smith said.
The expansion of the program also allowed for expanded interstate reciprocity, meaning neighboring states also help to mask records.
“I certainly agree with Secretary Adams that protecting abuse victims is worthwhile,” Smith said. “It’s worth the effort. His staff has put a lot of time and effort into this. He put a lot of passion behind it, and I applaud him for that.”
Victims can apply for the Safe at Home Program on the Secretary of State’s website.
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