If you go on [dpgs.gov.lb] and select your area, village and sect, you will get a full list of all voters in that village including their full name, their father and mother’s names, their date of birth, sect and register number.

We’re not the only country to have their voters lists made public but the real problem is who’s using this data and for what purpose. While electoral lists don’t show details such as phone numbers, addresses or emails, there are unofficial websites and apps where you find a lot of personal and sensitive information that should not be released or disclosed under any circumstances.

The data made available online could be used to see how voting participation has shifted over time in different areas across demographics, and could be used by political parties and candidates to influence voters, but I believe these data records should not be that easy for most people to obtain or use, and they should include political affiliation instead of sect.