Excerpt:

According to the U.S. Census, California has the second-lowest rate of people living alone in the entire country. This means Californians are far more likely to live with people such as parents, grandparents, partners and roommates than most Americans.

But for all the benefits that sharing your home can bring, this might not always be a smooth living situation when it comes to politics — especially during election season.

Americans and their view of politics have been increasingly polarized over the years — to the point where many people have stopped talking to friends and family members about politics and even sought estrangement.

Last month, in a viral post on X (formerly Twitter), the founder of a “divorce registry” company wrote that the question “Can my husband find out who I am voting for in the Presidential Election?” was one she’d been hearing “a lot.”

“There are a number of people that live in households where certain members of their family might have very strong opinions and want people in their household to share those opinions,” said Kim Alexander, the president of the nonpartisan California Voter Foundation. “It’s difficult when it’s somebody who is close to you [like] a family member, trying to pressure you to vote a certain way.”

But as “a voter, you have the right to vote a secret ballot,” Alexander said.

So what can you do if you’re feeling under pressure at home to vote a certain way? How can you successfully hide who you vote for from your partner, parents or roommates — especially if you’re in an abusive domestic situation? Read on to learn more about your rights when it comes to voting and ways you can protect the voting privacy the law entitles you.

Every situation is different, and as such, this guide can’t provide legal advice for your own circumstances. Remember also that advice for people on how to protect their voting privacy is not to suggest there’s some kind of voter fraud epidemic of people’s ballots being used in a way they hadn’t intended.

If you suspect your voting rights are being violated, you can reach out to the secretary of state. (Full Story)