Voters share sensitive things with people who are trying to help them. This lesson is about deserving that trust, and about protecting yourself at the same time.
By the end of this lesson you will be able to…
- List the categories of information we never record
- Apply the minimum-necessary principle to intake
- De-escalate or exit a hostile conversation
Minimum necessary
Collect only what is needed to solve the problem in front of you. If a piece of information would not change your advice, do not ask for it, and if it is volunteered, do not write it down.
| Information | Ask? | Record? |
|---|---|---|
| Full legal name | Yes | Yes |
| Current residential address | Yes | Yes |
| Date of birth | Yes | Yes — needed for most ID applications |
| Social Security number | Only if the application requires it | Never |
| Party affiliation | Never | Never |
| Immigration status | Never | Never |
| Criminal record | Only if the voter raises it | Only the fact that a rights-restoration referral was made |
When a conversation turns
Occasionally someone will become angry — at the law, at the state, or at you. Your safety comes before the case.
- Stop giving information. Nothing you say while someone is shouting will be retained.
- Lower your voice and slow down. Do not match their volume.
- Offer a concrete exit: “I’d like to keep helping. Can we pick this up by phone tomorrow?”
- If you feel unsafe, leave. Tell a site lead immediately.
- Write an incident note the same day, while you still remember the sequence.
You cannot help someone from inside an argument. Step out of it, and the help becomes possible again.
Field handbook, §4.2
Key takeaways
- Minimum necessary governs every question you ask
- Never record SSN, party, or status
- Your safety outranks the case