California records searchers and private investigators have been restricted from accessing voter registration records for many years. Specific conditions, namely, working on behalf of a government agency (GC 2194(a)(2) or on a court appointed matter, are the exceptions. Illinois has just passed a law that is even more restrictive, making no special allowance for journalists or other professionals.

The FBI has found a means to further restrict access to FOIA requests by only searching electronic records, not paper documents.