Domestic violence wraps its tendrils around parts of life that most people don’t consider unless they have been touched by it.

There are things like doctor appointments. How can you go for a routine visit if you might have to explain bruises? What about work? It can be hard to hold down a job if a controlling partner makes frequent calls or shows up aggressively.

When a domestic violence victim tries to leave, the everyday aspects of life can be breadcrumbs for an ex to follow. The church that provides support can be a place to be found. The school the kids attend can be staked out at drop-off or pick-up. A stylist, a drug store, an employer — they might all become a way to be dragged back or harmed.

So what about the voting booth?

“When someone experiences domestic violence, their autonomy and power is taken away,” said Lauren Duff, director of communications for the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence. “Voting is something everyone in our country should be allowed to do.”

And yet that can be a hurdle. Voter registration can make a person’s address public record, making some victims reluctant to participate in the duty and privilege of casting a ballot.

There are ways, however, to make sure this vital part of being an American is done safely. Victims can register through the state’s Address Confidentiality Program. Jessica Goghnour, the Westmoreland County Elections Office manager, explains individuals meet personally with employees to apply and are added to the system under a code.

There are four confidential voters in Westmoreland County.

Others with fear for their safety can apply for an alternate address. Someone living in a domestic violence shelter, for example, can use the program’s address — often an office different from the shelter itself for an additional measure of protection.

Voting might seem far down on the list of priorities for someone looking to escape violence or embrace independence. It shouldn’t.

Recent political ads have emphasized the privacy of voting, spelling out that even your partner doesn’t need to know how you vote. For domestic violence victims, especially those whose abuse is mental or emotional, voting can be something that wasn’t encouraged or allowed.

“People report experiencing isolation from political information and voting materials,” said Michelle Gibb, executive director of the Alle-Kiski Area HOPE Center.

That makes voting a proactive step toward taking control of a person’s own life — and moving from victim to survivor.

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