In the wake of the tragic, targeted attacks on the homes of two Minnesota lawmakers and their families, People United for Privacy (PUFP) is urging Congress and state legislatures to protect elected officials and donors from violence by redacting street names and numbers in public records. As lawmakers rightfully consider proposals to shield their own home addresses from public view, PUFP calls for coordinated action with the Federal Election Commission’s (FEC) ongoing bipartisan rulemaking and related legislative recommendation to protect sensitive donor information as well. Redacting street-level addresses should be standard procedure, not a special exemption.

“The FEC has taken an important step by proposing a redaction process for political contributors who can demonstrate a risk of potential harm and urging Congress to pass additional reforms,” said Heather Lauer, CEO of People United for Privacy. “But that’s not enough. The default should be privacy. Street addresses should no longer be made public, period. The burden shouldn’t fall on individuals to prove they deserve protection.”

In December 2024, the FEC published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (REG 2024‑06), titled Modification and Redaction of Contributor Information, which PUFP has endorsed. The proposal would create a process allowing contributors to apply to have their street names and numbers withheld from public disclosure in cases where there is a reasonable probability of threats or reprisals.

“We’re pleased the FEC recognizes the threat, but case-by-case redaction isn’t a solution that meets the moment,” Lauer said. “Congress should take this opportunity to establish a new baseline: that city, state, and ZIP code are sufficient for public transparency, and exact home addresses of donors should never be disclosed.”

The FEC unanimously issued a “Priority Legislative Recommendation” in late 2024 urging Congress to pass legislation amending the Federal Election Campaign Act’s disclosure requirements to protect the street names and street numbers of individual contributors from public disclosure in campaign finance reports. As the Commission explained:

“Historically, acquiring detailed donor information required someone to go to the Commission’s office and review paper filings. The advent of the internet now allows someone with only an individual’s name to find that person’s mailing address on the Commission’s website with less than a half dozen clicks. Any benefit to the public of knowing the exact address of an individual contributor is outweighed by the safety concerns of having an individual contributor’s address easily accessible on the Commission’s website.”

In light of these concerns, the FEC encouraged Congress to enact the following legislative language:

Section 304(a)(11)(B) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. § 30104(a)(11)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“The Commission shall not include the street name and street number of individual contributors in the information it makes available for inspection by the public in the offices of the Commission and accessible to the public on the Internet.”

PUFP also calls upon state legislatures to adopt similar privacy protections. In every state but California, Texas, and Wyoming, full street addresses are publicly accessible in campaign finance databases and political filings, needlessly exposing donors, nonprofit leaders, and community advocates to potential harassment and violence.

“As Members of Congress consider how to improve their own safety, they must also protect the Americans who stand behind them,” Lauer added. “The same is true in states across the country. This is not a partisan issue. It’s a moral obligation.”

PUFP has led the fight to protect privacy and freedom of association since its founding in 2018. Its model legislation, the Personal Privacy Protection Act (PPPA), has been enacted in 21 states, and the organization has successfully defeated hundreds of proposed bills that would expand compelled donor disclosure or threaten anonymous civic engagement.

“Participation in public life shouldn’t require Americans to risk their safety,” Lauer concluded. “It’s time to shift from reactive policies to permanent protections. Congress and the states must act now – not just for public officials, but for every American who chooses to get involved.”