Panel Moves to Curb Access to Voter Records : Privacy: Bill approved by a state Senate committee would shield registration information. Backers say such data puts people at risk of stalkers and other criminals.

Heeding appeals to protect entertainers from stalkers and other criminals, the Senate Elections Committee voted Wednesday to restrict public access to voter registration records.

Sponsored by acting Secretary of State Tony Miller and supported by the Screen Actors Guild, the bill was approved on a 4-0 vote and sent to the Appropriations Committee.

“People should not be required to divulge home addresses, occupation designations and telephone numbers to the world in order to exercise their rights as citizens,” said Miller, a Democratic candidate for secretary of state.

“Easy access to home addresses puts people at risk,” Miller said. “One should not have to take that risk in order to vote.”

In 1989, the Legislature put records of the Department of Motor Vehicles off limits after the slaying of actress Rebecca Schaeffer at her apartment by an obsessed fan who had legally obtained information about her from the DMV.

Although criminals no longer can get personal information from the DMV, “they can still obtain it by walking into any registrar of voters office and asking to see the files,” said actor Richard Masur, a vice president of the Screen Actors Guild. He told the legislators that the bill would bring “greater personal safety to our members and your constituents.”

“This bill is an unfortunate product of our time,” said Sen. Milton Marks (D-San Francisco), the author.

The legislation would restrict public access to information contained on voter registration cards, including addresses, telephone numbers, precinct numbers and occupation.

Exempted from the restriction would be individuals with a legitimate need, including campaign consultants, scholars, journalists, political researchers and government officials.

The bill was opposed by the California Newspaper Publishers Assn., whose representative, Thomas Newton, said it would impose an unnecessary impediment to citizen participation in the election process, which he described as a fundamental element of democracy.

For example, Newton said, citizens promoting a local school bond no longer could obtain names of registered voters whom they could contact for support.

He also said an existing safeguard is adequate because it enables a voter to obtain a court order to keep registration information confidential.

Current laws also allow addresses and other information about judges, peace officers and prosecutors to be kept off voter lists.

During the hearing, Miller testified that anecdotal evidence suggests that some people refuse to register because they fear they might become victims of stalkers or other criminals.

But veteran Sen. William Craven (R-Oceanside), who voted for the bill, told Miller that in his 35 years in public office, “I’ve never run into a person who has said that to me.”

Miller said he had no statistics to support his contention, but “many people do have a legitimate concern” for their safety. Outside the hearing, Miller said he based his belief on conversations with activists who register voters.