
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, September 2, 1993                   TAG: 9309020250
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS SHIELDED

A U.S. District Court judge has banned Virginia from disclosing voters' Social Security numbers to the public in response to a Stafford County man's 1991 invasion of privacy lawsuit.

Marc A. Greidinger, a Falmouth resident and lawyer for the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, challenged a state law requiring voters to file their Social Security numbers when they register to vote. He argued that disclosure of the numbers provides hustlers an opportunity to commit fraud.

The order, signed by U.S. District Judge James R. Spencer in Richmond, prohibits election and voter registration officials from allowing the public to view voters' Social Security numbers, as well as forbidding their release to political parties and candidates.

Registrars still will require a Social Security number when a person registers to vote, but separate lists will be kept so the number will not be available to the public, said Michael Brown, secretary of the Virginia Board of Elections.

by CNB