Company being sued is likely to mail voter forms

The company has been sued by motorists in Ohio and five other states.

COLUMBUS (AP) — A company accused of violating privacy laws would be in charge of mailing voter registration forms to Ohioans who move to a new address under a proposal by the state’s top elections officer.

Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner is expected to ask a state panel Monday to award a Massachusetts company $161,700 over a two-year period to handle the pilot program, which would send welcome packets that contain the voter forms to residents who move in 45 counties.

Imagitas Inc., which was awarded a state contract in 2005 to send vehicle registration notices, has been sued by motorists in Ohio and five other states alleging that advertisements it places in mailings violate privacy laws preventing the disclosure of drivers’ personal information, such as names and addresses, for marketing or solicitations.

For Ohio to participate in the voter program, Brunner had to select Waltham, Mass.-based Imagitas, which is under contract with the U.S. Postal Service to send out the welcome packets, said Patrick Gallaway, a spokesman for the secretary of state’s office.

If awarded the contract, Imagitas plans to also insert advertising into the welcome packets. The company never shares personal information with the companies whose advertising it stuffs into envelopes, a spokesman said.

“This project by Secretary Brunner will help Ohio take the national lead in simplifying the voter registration process for people who move,” said Imagitas spokesman Alfie Charles.

Gallaway also downplayed privacy concerns.

“This is not a program where names are sold,” Gallaway said. “We don’t think there will be any problems with this.”

The lawsuits by motorists in Ohio, Massachusetts, Missouri, Florida, Minnesota and New York have been consolidated into a single case in federal court in Florida, where arguments are scheduled for January.

Charles said the company is confident its vehicle registration renewal program will be upheld in federal court.

State Sen. John Carey, a Wellston Republican and a member of the bipartisan state Controlling Board, which will review Brunner’s request Monday, said he is opposed to the voter program, primarily because it covers only 45 of Ohio’s 88 counties, but also because of the Imagitas lawsuit.

The 45 counties in the pilot program are concentrated around the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati market areas.

“The perception is going to be in Dayton, Youngstown and other communities that they’re being left out,” Carey said.

If approved, the plan would be paid for by a grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts, a nonprofit group that is promoting projects to improve voting systems across the country. The Pew foundation also would have to sign off on Ohio’s participation in the pilot program.