Privacy Statement

Last updated May 23, 2024

This Privacy Policy explains how information about you is collected, used and disclosed by Dorchester County MD Democratic Central Committee and any affiliates (“Dorchester County Dems” “we,” or “us”). This Privacy Policy applies to information we collect when you use the websites, mobile sites, and other online services that link to this Privacy Policy (collectively, the “Sites”).

We may change this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make changes, we will notify you by revising the date at the top of the policy and, in some cases, we may provide you with additional notice (such as adding a statement to our homepage or sending you an email notification). We encourage you to review the Privacy Policy whenever you access the Sites to stay informed about our information practices and the ways you can help protect your privacy.

Collection of Information

Information You Provide to Us

We collect information you provide directly to us. For example, we may collect information when you fill out a form, send us an email, sign up to receive updates, request information, make a donation, share a story, submit content, communicate with us via third-party social media sites, or otherwise communicate with us. The types of information you provide to us may include your name, contact information (e.g., email, phone number, and address), payment information, and other contact or identifying information you choose to provide.

In addition, we may collect information as required by the State of Maryland.

Information We Collect Automatically When You Use the Sites

When you access or use our Sites, we automatically collect information about you, including:

Log Information: We log information about your use of the Sites, including the type of browser you use, activity on the Sites (such as access times, pages viewed, and links clicked), your IP address and the page you visited before navigating to our Site.
Device Information: We may collect information about the computer or mobile device you use to access our Site, including the hardware model, operating system and version, device identifiers and mobile network information.
Transactional Information: If you make a donation or purchase, we may collect information about the transaction, such as donation amount, purchase price, product details, and date and location of the transaction.
Information Collected by Cookies and Other Tracking Technologies: We use various technologies to collect information, and this may include placing on your computer or mobile device cookies that uniquely identify your browser or device. Cookies are small data files used to store information on your device, including to help us to improve our Sites and your experience, see which areas and features of our Sites are popular, and count visits. We may also collect information using web beacons (also known as “tracking pixels” or “clear GIFs”). Web beacons are electronic images that may be used in our Sites or emails and help deliver cookies, count visits, understand usage and campaign effectiveness and determine whether an email has been opened and acted upon. For more information about cookies, and how to disable them, please see “Your Choices” below.

Information We Collect From Other Sources

We may also obtain information from other sources and combine that with information we collect through our Sites. For example, if you make a donation to a third-party website, such as ActBlue, for our benefit or if you sign up to host or volunteer for an event via a third-party website, we will obtain certain information about you from the third party that operates that website. We also may receive voter file data from state parties and other democratic organizations, from publicly available sources, and from private organizations. We may also receive information from a social media site if you connect to our Sites through that site.

Use of Information

We may use information about you for various purposes, including to:

Provide, maintain and improve our Sites and send you confirmations, receipts, technical notices, updates, security alerts, and support and administrative messages;
Provide and deliver the information you request, process donations and transactions, and send you related information, including confirmations;
Respond to your emails, submissions, comments, questions and requests, provide customer service, ask you to respond to a survey, request feedback, and otherwise contact you about your use of the Sites;
Send you newsletters and otherwise provide you with information or services you request or that we think will be of interest to you, such as sending you information to keep you informed about the campaign, various issues, events, activities, and volunteer opportunities (please see “Your Choices” below for information about how to opt out of certain communications at any time);
Help connect you with other supporters, and solicit volunteers, donations and support for Dorchester Dems and for other candidates, issues and organizations that we support;
Contact you if we need additional information, such as if you leave fields blank on a form or if other information is necessary under Federal election laws;
Remind you to vote and register to vote and assist you in finding your registration information, polling location and campaign events near you;
Monitor and analyze trends, usage and activities in connection with our Sites;
Personalize and improve the Sites and provide, both on and off the Sites, advertisements, content or features that match user profiles or interests or that are based on the information you provide or the actions you take;
Notify and contact contest or sweepstakes entrants;
Detect, investigate and prevent fraudulent transactions and other illegal activities and protect the rights and property of Dorchester County Dems and others, including by enforcing our Terms & Conditions; and
Carry out any other purpose for which the information was collected.

Dorchester County Dems is based in the United States and the information we collect is governed by U.S. law. By accessing or using the Sites or otherwise providing information to us, you consent to the processing and transfer of information in and to the U.S. and other countries.

Sharing of Information

We may share information about you as follows or as otherwise described in this Privacy Policy:

With vendors, consultants and other service providers or volunteers engaged by or working with us who need access to such information to carry out work on our behalf;
With candidates, organizations, campaigns, groups or causes that we believe have similar political viewpoints, principles or objectives or share similar goals and with organizations that facilitate communications and information sharing among such groups;
With other participants in a joint fundraising committee;
To report required information to the Federal Election Commission, including name, mailing address, occupation, and name of employers of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in a calendar year (for additional information, visit the FEC website at http://www.fec.gov);
With current and future affiliates, a term that includes companies that control, are controlled by, or are under common control with, Dorchester County Dems;
When we believe in good faith that we are lawfully authorized or required to do so or that doing so is reasonably necessary or appropriate to comply with the law or legal processes or respond to lawful requests, claims or legal authorities, including responding to lawful subpoenas, warrants, or court orders, or lawful requests by public authorities to meet national security or law enforcement requirements;
If we believe your actions are inconsistent with the spirit or language of our user agreements or policies, or to protect the rights, property and safety of Dorchester County Dems, its employees, volunteers, constituents or others;
In connection with, or during negotiations of, any reorganization, formation of new committee or successor organization, asset sale or transfer, financing or lending transaction or in any other situation where personal information may be disclosed or transferred as one of the assets of Dorchester County Dems; and
With your consent or at your direction, including if we notify you through our Sites that the information you provide will be shared in a particular manner and you provide such information or if you submit content or information on a public area of the site or information that is intended to be shared on the Sites or with the public.
If you sign an online petition, you understand that such petition is public information and that we may make the petition, and your name, city, state, and any comments provided in connection therewith publicly available. In addition, we may provide such petitions or compilations thereof, including your comments, name, city, and state to national, state or local leaders, or to the press.

We may also share aggregated or anonymized information that does not directly identify you.

Links to Third-Party Sites

The Sites may make third-party information, advertisements, promotions and other content available on or through the Sites (“Third Party Content”). Our Sites also may link or otherwise provide access to third-party websites and other products and services outside our control (collectively, “Third Party Products and Services”). These Third Party Products and Services may include, for example, event and volunteer registration and management, donation and payment functionality, and other features, functionalities, and services powered by third parties. These Third Party Products and Services and Third Party Content are not under the control of Dorchester County Dems, and Dorchester County Dems is not responsible for the security or privacy of any personal information you share with them. You should exercise caution and review the applicable privacy policies of any Third Party Product and Service, including those you use in connection with the Sites, before providing them with your personal information.

Social Sharing Features

The Sites may offer social sharing features and other integrated tools (such as the Facebook “Like” button), which let you share actions you take on our Sites with other media, and vice versa. The use of such features enables the sharing of information with your friends or the public, depending on the settings you establish with the entity that provides the social sharing feature. For more information about the purpose and scope of data collection and processing in connection with social sharing features, please visit the privacy policies of the entities that provide these features.

Advertising and Analytics Services Provided by Others

We and third parties that provide content or functionality on the Sites or provide us analytics and advertising services may collect or receive information about your use of the Sites and other websites or mobile applications, including through the use of cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies. This information may include, for example, your IP address, browser, device information, pages viewed, time spent on pages, links clicked and conversion information. This information may be combined with information collected across different websites, online services, and linked or associated devices to, among other things, analyze and track data, determine the popularity of certain content, deliver advertising and content targeted to your interests and better understand your online activity.

For more information about Internet-based ads, or to opt out of receiving targeted advertising from participating companies, please visit www.aboutads.info/choices. In addition, your device may include a feature (such as “Limit Ad Tracking” on iOS or “Opt Out of Interest-Based Ads” or “Opt Out of Ads Personalization” on Android) that allows you to opt out of having information collected through certain device applications used for targeted advertising purposes.

Your Choices

Account Information

You or your authorized representative should email dorchesterdems@gmail.com if you would like to request in accordance with applicable laws that we update, correct, or delete, or provide you access to, the information you have provided us. However, note that we may not be able to honor your request for legitimate business purposes, such as where you request that we update or delete information we are required to retain by law or where we cannot verify your identity. You may also email if you feel that we have handled your request in error.

Most web browsers are set to accept cookies by default. If you prefer, you can usually choose to set your browser to remove or reject browser cookies. Removing or rejecting browser cookies does not necessarily affect third-party flash cookies that may be used in connection with our Sites.

To delete or disable flash cookies please visit www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/ security for more information. Please note that if you choose to remove or reject cookies, this could affect the availability and functionality of our Site.

Promotional Communications

You may opt out of receiving promotional emails or text messages by following the instructions in those emails or text messages. If you opt out, we may still send you other types of emails, such as those about your use of the Sites or any donations or transactions.

Your California Privacy Rights

California law permits residents of California to request certain details about how their information is shared with third parties for direct marketing purposes. If you are a California resident and would like to make such a request, please contact us at dorchesterdems@gmail.com.

Security

Please note that no data transmission or storage can be guaranteed to be 100 percent secure. As a result, although we strive to protect the information we maintain, we cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information that you transmit to us.

Do-Not-Track Signals

Some web browsers may transmit “do-not-track” signals to the websites and other online services with which the browser communicates. There is no standard that governs what, if anything, websites and online services should do when they receive these signals. We currently do not take action in response to these signals. If and when a standard for responding is established, we may revisit our policy on responding to these signals.

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at dorchesterdems@gmail.com.