Anonymous registration is also known as the registration of “silent” voters. It is the practice of placing certain individuals on the voters’ list in such a way that their names or other characteristics (e.g. addresses) do not appear in any published or circulated version of the voters’ list. In some instances, the election management authority provides for anonymous registration by creating and maintaining a separate list of silent voters. Anonymous registration is in use in Australia and New Zealand.
Voters may wish to remain anonymous for various reasons. Perhaps the most common is that they have been subject to domestic violence and are concerned that making their location known could jeopardise their personal or family’s safety. Similarly, victims of crime may fear that a perpetrator released from prison will become aware of their location and seek revenge.
In providing assurances of anonymous registration, the election management authority must be able to fulfill its commitment. Further, it is widely felt that individuals should not be deprived of their democratic rights as a result of having suffered from domestic abuse or a criminal act. At the same time, anonymous registration appears not to be consistent with the principle of openness and transparency in the electoral process. At least in theory, a silent list could be a cloak for large-scale electoral fraud if very large numbers of voters are involved, and the list cannot be reviewed in the customary manner by citizens, political parties or their agents.
As in many aspects of election administration, the best solution lies in striking a balance between the privacy needs of a relatively small number of individuals with legitimate reasons for wishing to remain anonymous, and the need for openness and transparency in election administration. The election management authority may require anyone wishing to be placed on a silent voters’ list to provide evidence that their personal safety and security otherwise would be at risk. The election management authority may also make the list of silent voters available for scrutiny by a small number of electoral agents who have declared an oath to maintain the confidentiality of the list.
