Privacy Policy

Last updated: September 2026

The Bennington County Democratic Committee, also known as the Bennington County Democrats or “BennDems” (“BennDems,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you provide to us.

This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and protect information obtained through benndems.org, our forms, email and text-message programs, events, volunteer activities, petitions, surveys, and other digital services.

Our website may contain links to websites or services operated by third parties. We are not responsible for the content, security, or privacy practices of those third-party websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external sites you visit.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or services. The date above identifies the most recent revision.

Information We May Collect

Depending on how you interact with BennDems, we may collect information including:

  • Name;

  • Email address;

  • Mailing address;

  • Mobile or telephone number;

  • City, town, ZIP code, or other geographic information;

  • Volunteer interests and availability;

  • Event registrations and attendance information;

  • Communication preferences;

  • Information you submit through petitions, surveys, signup forms, applications, or other forms;

  • Political contribution information required by applicable law;

  • Information about your interactions with our website, emails, or other communications; and

  • Technical information such as browser type, device information, IP address, cookies, and website activity.

How We Use Information

We may use information you provide to:

  • Send news and updates about BennDems;

  • Provide information about elections, candidates, events, volunteer opportunities, trainings, and civic participation;

  • Coordinate volunteers, organizers, and events;

  • Respond to questions, requests, or inquiries;

  • Send communications relevant to your community or geographic area;

  • Request contributions or other support;

  • Administer petitions, surveys, programs, and signup forms;

  • Improve our website, communications, and organizing efforts;

  • Maintain records of communication preferences and consent; and

  • Comply with campaign-finance, election, legal, regulatory, and reporting requirements.

Except as specifically restricted under the Mobile Messaging and SMS Privacy section below, we may share certain non-mobile contact information with Democratic, civic, political, or other organizations that share similar goals and objectives when appropriate and permitted by law.

Mobile Messaging and SMS Privacy

If you provide your mobile telephone number and affirmatively opt in to receive text messages from the Bennington County Democratic Committee (“BennDems”), we may send you recurring SMS or MMS messages relating to committee meetings, volunteer activities and shifts, events, scheduling changes, organizational announcements, elections, candidates, voter engagement, campaign activities, fundraising, and other BennDems programs and activities.

Participation in the BennDems text-messaging program is voluntary. Consent to receive text messages is not a condition of making a contribution, becoming or remaining a committee member, volunteering, attending an event, purchasing anything, or otherwise participating in BennDems activities.

Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply.

You may opt out of receiving text messages at any time by replying STOP. After opting out, you may receive a confirmation message. For assistance, reply HELP or contact us at info@benndems.org.

We do not share, sell, rent, transfer, or provide your mobile telephone number, SMS opt-in information, or messaging consent data to third parties or affiliates for their marketing or promotional purposes.

No mobile information or messaging consent information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.

This restriction applies notwithstanding any other provision of this Privacy Policy concerning the sharing of personal or contact information.

We may disclose mobile information to service providers that perform services on our behalf, including telecommunications, messaging, hosting, data-management, or technology providers, solely as reasonably necessary to operate and support our messaging program. Those service providers may use such information only to provide services to BennDems and are not authorized to use your mobile number, opt-in information, or messaging consent for their own marketing or promotional purposes.

Wireless carriers are not responsible for delayed or undelivered messages.

How We Protect Your Information

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

Access to systems containing personal information is limited to individuals and service providers who require access to perform authorized functions on behalf of BennDems.

Sensitive information, including payment information, is transmitted using appropriate security measures, such as encrypted connections.

We do not store credit card information on our website.

Political Contributions

When you make a political contribution, we may be required by federal or state campaign-finance laws to collect, retain, and disclose certain information about you.

Depending on applicable law, this information may include your:

  • Name;

  • Mailing address;

  • Occupation;

  • Employer;

  • Contribution amount; and

  • Other information required by law.

Information that we are legally required to report may become part of a public record.

We do not store your credit card information.

Petitions, Surveys, Endorsements, and Public Forms

When you sign a petition, endorsement, public statement, or similar form, certain information you provide—such as your name, city or town, state, and comments—may be treated as public information when appropriate to the purpose of the form.

We may provide such information to public officials, members of the press, partner organizations, or the public.

We may also use information you provide to communicate with you regarding BennDems activities or other matters consistent with this Privacy Policy.

Mobile telephone numbers, SMS opt-in information, and messaging consent data remain subject to the Mobile Messaging and SMS Privacy provisions above and will not be shared with third parties or affiliates for their marketing or promotional purposes.

Information We Collect Automatically

We and service providers working on our behalf may use cookies, analytics tools, tracking pixels, web beacons, and similar technologies to understand how visitors use our website and interact with our communications.

These technologies may help us:

  • Measure website traffic;

  • Understand how visitors use our website;

  • Determine whether emails have been opened or links have been selected;

  • Evaluate outreach, communications, or advertising;

  • Improve website performance; and

  • Improve the user experience.

Your browser or device may provide options for limiting cookies or similar tracking technologies.

Service Providers

We may use third-party service providers to operate our website, process contributions, manage email or text communications, administer events, analyze website activity, or perform other services on our behalf.

These providers may receive information only as reasonably necessary to perform the services for which they have been engaged and are expected to handle that information in accordance with applicable privacy and security obligations.

As stated above, mobile telephone numbers, SMS opt-in information, and messaging consent data are not shared with third parties or affiliates for their own marketing or promotional purposes.

Children’s Privacy

Our website and communications are not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without appropriate authorization, we will take reasonable steps to delete that information.

Parents or guardians with questions may contact us using the information below.

Email Communications

You may unsubscribe from BennDems marketing or informational email communications at any time by using the unsubscribe link provided in those emails.

Certain records may be retained where required by law, including campaign-finance and contribution records.

Your Choices and Questions

You may contact us to ask questions about this Privacy Policy, request corrections to information you have provided, or ask about our privacy practices.

Bennington County Democratic Committee
P.O. Box 1861
Manchester Center, VT 05255
Phone: (802) 440-0220
Email: info@benndems.org