How public voter records threaten retirees at election time

Election season should be about casting your vote and making your voice heard. But for scammers, it’s an opportunity to trick retirees into handing over personal details, money, or even their vote itself. What many don’t realize is that public voter registration data is one of the biggest tools fraudsters use. With elections coming up on November 4, scammers are already scraping these records and using them to create targeted scams. If you’re a retiree or helping a parent or loved one prepare to vote, here’s how to stay safe.

Why voter records are public and risky

Every state in the U.S. keeps voter registration lists. These include personal details like:

• Full name
• Home address
• Phone number (in some states)
• Political party affiliation
• Voting history (whether you voted, not who you voted for).

While these lists are meant for transparency, they’re often made available online or sold in bulk. Data brokers scoop them up, combine them with other records, and suddenly scammers have a detailed profile of you: your age, address, and voting habits. For retirees, this exposure is especially dangerous. Why? Because seniors are less likely to know that this information is floating around, making scams seem more convincing.

Scams targeting retirees before November 4

Here are the most common election-season cons fraudsters are already running:

1) Fake “polling place” updates

You might get a call, text, or email saying your polling location has changed. Scammers may then direct you to a fake site that asks for your Social Security number or ID details “to confirm eligibility.”

2) “Voter ID update” messages

Since some states require voter ID, scammers will pose as election officials, claiming your ID is “out of date” or that you must upload personal documents. These go straight into the wrong hands.

3) Donation scams

Criminals set up fake political donation sites with names resembling real campaigns. Retirees who are politically active or generous with causes are prime targets here.

4) Absentee ballot phishing

Scammers know many seniors vote by mail. They’ll send emails offering to “help” with requests or track your ballot while stealing your personal data in the process.

Red flags to watch out for

Scammers use clever tricks to make their messages seem urgent and official. Here are the warning signs that should make you pause before responding.

• Urgency: “Act now or lose your right to vote.” Scammers use deadlines to scare you.
• Unusual payment requests: No legitimate election office will ever ask for payment to vote or register.
• Strange links: If you’re asked to click on a link from a text or email, stop. Always go directly to your state’s official election website instead.
• Requests for sensitive info: Election officials don’t need your Social Security number or bank account details.

How retirees can stay safe this election season

Protecting yourself doesn’t mean opting out of civic life. It means taking a few smart steps:

1) Reduce your data footprint

This one matters most. The less personal data available about you, the fewer opportunities scammers have to trick you during election season. When they can view your age, address, and even your voting history, they can craft messages that sound alarmingly real. The good news is you can take control and limit what’s out there.

Reaching every voter data broker or people-search site on your own is nearly impossible, and most make the process intentionally difficult. That’s why data removal services such as Incogni can help. Incogni automatically sends removal requests to more than 400 data-broker sites and keeps monitoring to ensure your information doesn’t return. The result is fewer scam calls, fewer phishing emails, and far less risk this election season.

While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice.  They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy.  These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites.  It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet.  By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

A service like Incogni can help you remove all this personal information from the internet. It has a very clean interface and will scan 420+ websites for your information and remove it and keep it removed. Plus Incogni has received third-party assurance from Deloitte validating its entire data removal process.The longer you wait, the more data brokers spread your personal information online. I recommend Incogni to help you remove that data automatically (and they make sure it stays removed) without any effort on your part.

Exclusive Deal for CyberGuy Readers (60% off):  Incogni offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and then charges a special CyberGuy discount for all annual plans only through the links in this article for as low as $6.39/month for one person (billed annually) or $13.19/month for your family (up to 5 people) on their annual plan. This fully automated data removal service provides ongoing protection from 420+ data brokers, and if you choose the Unlimited plan, you can also request removals from specific sites where your personal information appears.

I recommend the family plan because it works out to only $2.64 per person per month (or $4.80 per person per month if you get the Family Unlimited plan) for powerful year-round privacy protection. It’s an excellent service, and well worth trying to see how much of your information is being exposed and how effectively it can be removed.

Get Incogni here

Get Incogni for your family (up to 5 people) here

Is your personal information exposed online?

Run a free scan to see if your personal info is compromised. Results arrive by email in about an hour.

2) Confirm only through official sources

If you get a message about your polling place, ignore any links and call your local election office directly. Each state also has an official website you can trust.

3) Sign up for ballot tracking

Many states offer secure ballot tracking online. Use only the official election site, not third-party services.

4) Freeze your credit

Since scammers use voter data to impersonate you, a credit freeze stops them from opening new accounts in your name. Retirees who don’t need frequent new credit are especially good candidates for this protection.

5) Be wary of political donation sites

If you want to donate, type the campaign’s official website into your browser instead of clicking a link in an email or social media ad.

Related Links: 

• Bank pop-up scam could empty your account in seconds
• Dodging a digital bullet: A true close call with a work email scam
• Inside a scammer’s day and how they target you

Kurt’s key takeaway

Voting is one of the most important rights we have. But this year, scammers will use public voter data to exploit retirees like never before. Don’t let them steal your peace of mind. By spotting the red flags, sticking to official election sources, and removing your personal data from the web, you can protect yourself and your vote.

Have you or someone you know received a suspicious message about voting or donations? How did you realize or suspect that it was a scam? Let us know in the comments below.

This article was created in partnership with Incogni

Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.  CyberGuy.com articles and content may contain affiliate links that earn a commission when purchases are made.