Virginians for the Commonwealth Privacy Statement

I. Introduction

Virginians for the Commonwealth values the trust and privacy of its members and other supporters. This Privacy Policy sets forth Virginians for the Commonwealth’s practices regarding: (1) what personal information we collect about you — both online via The Virginia Voter Guide website and offline via traditional, hard copy forms; (2) how we use that information; (3) under what circumstances we disclose it; (4) what choices are available to you regarding such information collection; and, (5) what security we use to protect such information. This Privacy Policy also provides some additional information for users of The Virginia Voter Guide website.

II. Definitions

As used in this Privacy Policy, the following terms have the meanings indicated below: The term “we” or “us” means Virginians for the Commonwealth.

1. The term “you” means a person who has provided personal information to us in connection with obtaining a Virginians for the Commonwealth product or service (e.g. who subscribes to a Virginians for the Commonwealth-produced electronic newsletter).
2. The term “personal information” means any piece of information that on its own can specifically identify a person who has provided personal information to us in connection with obtaining a Virginians for the Commonwealth product or service. This would include, but is not limited to, full name, postal address, e-mail address, social security number, or financial information.
3. The term “The Virginia Voter Guide website” means Virginians for the Commonwealth’s external website located at: thevirginiavoterguide.com and any future websites that we may develop.
4. The term “Virginians for the Commonwealth-related organizations” means funding organizations such as the Virginia Education Association, Progress Virginia, and We the People for Education, or any other entity created by Virginians for the Commonwealth.
5. The term “third party” means a legal entity that is separate and independent from Virginians for the Commonwealth.
6. The term “cookie” means a small file that is placed on your computer that allows a website to store, and sometimes track, information about how you use that website.
7. The term “discussion forum” means an asynchronous website component that enables users to exchange ideas by posting questions and answers on relevant subjects. Discussion forums are also commonly referred to as “discussion groups,” “discussion boards,” “message boards,” “bulletin boards,” and “online forums.”

III. Personal Information Collected

We may collect personal information about you from the following sources:

1. Personal Information that you voluntarily provide to us online via The Virginia Voter Guide website or offline via traditional, hard copy forms (such as your name, postal address, telephone number, e-mail address, social security number, etc.).
2. Other Personal Information that you voluntarily provide to us via The Virginia Voter Guide website (such as an e-mail address if you subscribe to an electronic newsletter or other personal information contained in an e-mail that you send to us via the feedback feature of The Virginia Voter Guide website).
3. Personal Information that we receive from third parties (such as publicly available voter registration information).

IV. How We Use That Information

The personal information that Virginians for the Commonwealth collects about you helps us to efficiently and effectively educate you with valuable voting information.

V. Information Sharing

In order to provide you with efficient and effective representation and member benefits, we routinely share all of the personal information that we collect about you, as described in Section III above, with Virginians for the Commonwealth-related organizations, as well as third parties that perform services on our behalf.

Additionally, we may share any of the personal information that we collect about you, as described in Section III above, with certain third parties that share our interests or as otherwise permitted by law.

VI. Available Choices

Any personal information that you provide to us is voluntary. If you subscribe to any Virginians for the Commonwealth-produced electronic newsletter, you may cancel your subscription at any time by following the instructions at the bottom of all such newsletters. If you have any problems canceling such a subscription, please contact us.

VII. Information Security

We maintain administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to: (1) insure the security and confidentiality of your personal information; (2) protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of such information; and (3) protect against unauthorized access to or use of such information. For more information on our information security, contact Virginians for the Commonwealth directly to request a copy of the NEA Information Security Program.

VIII. Information Systems

• Virginians for the Commonwealth shall take appropriate steps to ensure that documents containing personal information are securely sent to and from Virginians for the Commonwealth-related and third party organizations.
• Virginians for the Commonwealth shall take appropriate steps to destroy documents containing personal information in a secure way, such as shredding, erasing, or otherwise modifying the personal information in those documents to make it unreadable or undecipherable.
• Oversight of Third Parties: Virginians for the Commonwealth requires that: (1) the Virginians for the Commonwealth Executive Director approves any request to share member personal information; and (2) any approval is subject to Virginians for the Commonwealth Board policy.

IX. Additional Information for Users of the The Virginia Voter Guide Web Site or VEA Intranet

1. Collection and Use of Non-Personal Information
   If you use The Virginia Voter Guide website, you provide us with certain non-personal information in addition to any personal information that you may voluntarily provide. For example, if you browse The Virginia Voter Guide website or download information, our operating system automatically records the following non-personal information:
   1. The Internet domain for your Internet service (such as “xcompany.com” or “xcompany.net” if you use a private Internet access account, or “yourcollege.edu” if you connect from a college or university domain);
   2. The type of browser that you use (such as “America Online version 7” or “Microsoft Internet Explorer 5”);
   3. The type of operating system that you use (such as Windows or Macintosh);
   4. The date and time that you visit The Virginia Voter Guide website and the web pages that you view;
   5. The address of the previous website that you visited if you linked to us from another website; and
   6. The address of the next website that you visit if you link to it from The Virginia Voter Guide website.

   We use the above non-personal information to diagnose technical problems and track user interests so that we can provide content that interests you.

   We gather this non-personal information in the aggregate and we share it in the same manner that we share personal information, as described in Section V above.

2. Cookies

We use cookies to track what you are viewing when you visit The Virginia Voter Guide website, and to enhance your user experience. In order to provide you with customized content and an enhanced user experience, certain cookies used by Virginians for the Commonwealth identify you as an individual. If you are concerned about Virginians for the Commonwealth’s use of cookies, check your Internet browser. Most have a setting that will allow you to reject cookies. However, some Virginians for the Commonwealth features and services may not function properly if your cookies are disabled.

Additionally, Virginians for the Commonwealth allows third parties who advertise or provide content on The Virginia Voter Guide website to use cookies. Third parties’ use of cookies is subject to their own privacy policies, and is not governed by this Privacy Policy.

3. Discussion Forums

If you participate in a discussion forum on The Virginia Voter Guide website, your comments, along with any personal information that you voluntarily disclose, may be collected, used, and shared by anyone with access to that forum. We are not responsible for the personal information that you choose to submit in a discussion forum.

4. Children

The Virginia Voter Guide website is a general website, and we do not knowingly collect any personal information from children under the age of 13.

5. External Links

This Privacy Policy applies only to The Virginia Guide website. It does not cover any websites that are linked to or from The Virginia Guide website for which we are not responsible (“linked-sites”). These linked-sites will have their own policies and practices which may be different from ours. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the policies and practices of the linked-sites especially if you provide personal information to them.

X. Effective Date, Amendments, and Consent to This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy is effective September, 2025. We retain the right to amend or otherwise update this Privacy Policy at any time for any reason. By using The Virginia Voter Guide website, you consent to the collection, use, and sharing of personal information as we have described herein. If we amend or update our Privacy Policy, we will post the changes online at The Virginia Voter Guide website so that you are always aware of Virginians for the Commonwealth’s current practices. You may also contact us at any time to request an up-to-date hard copy version of the Privacy Policy.

XI. Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Policy, contact Virginians for the Commonwealth.