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Re: Public Information vs. Common Sense



NH law used to require that we post the list of absentee voters at the
polling places on election day...until someone decided that this was a
convenient list to use for break-ins on election day.  The city and town
clerks tried to have the legislature define the absentee list as a
confidential record, but (I'm having a senior moment here) either the Court
overturned it or the Legislature repealed it later.  In any event, the law
now reads that absentee lists won't be posted and are available only to
candidates whose names appear on the ballot for that election.  That doesn't
stop the political mail to absentee voters, but it does remove the risk of
(other types of) misuse.

-----Original Message-----
From: Osier, Nina [mailto:Nina.Osier@STATE.ME.US]
Sent: Friday, November 03, 2000 8:10 AM
To: ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
Subject: Public Information vs. Common Sense


Just because it's public information, so that you CAN get it and use it,
does not mean you SHOULD.  Here's a case of good intentions backfiring just
a bit (warning:  I'm quoted here, but as a citizen of my community - not in
my capacity as a public official).

http://www.centralmaine.com/news/stories/001103citypark.shtml

Nina M. Osier
Director, Division of Records Management Services
Maine State Archives
Nina.Osier@state.me.us
(and in private life a resident of the City of Augusta, Maine)

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