L2 Historical Voter Data

IRB Information

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) conducts ethics reviews for research that includes human participants. We strive to protect the rights and welfare of human research participants by ensuring compliance with state and federal laws, as well as the high ethical standards set forth in University policy. 

Use of the L2 Historical Voter Files may constitute exempt research under category 4: Secondary research for which consent is not required. According to the IRB's Exempt Research Guidelines, secondary research uses of identifiable private information or identifiable biospecimens may be allowable, if at least one of the following criteria is met:

1. The identifiable private information or identifiable biospecimens are publicly available; or
    
2. Information, which may include information about biospecimens, is recorded by the investigator in such a manner that the identity of the human subjects cannot readily be ascertained directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects, the investigator does not contact the subjects, and the investigator will not re-identify subjects; or
    
3. The research involves only information collection and analysis involving the investigator’s use of identifiable health information when that use is regulated under 45 CFR 160 and 164 for the purposes of “health care operations” or “research” or for public health activities and purposes”; or
    
4. The research is conducted by, or on behalf of, a Federal department or agency using government-generated or government-collected information obtained for non-research activities, if the research generates identifiable private information that is or will be maintained on information technology that is in compliance with applicable laws/privacy protections.

Although analysis of L2 Historical Voter Files may fall under an exemption category, researchers may not "self-exempt" from the IRB process. Therefore, to use these data, a submission to the IRB via the University of Utah's Electronic Research Integrity and Compliance Administration system (ERICA) is required for initial review to confirm the exempt status of your research; guided exemptions for use of this data are not permitted.

For more information about the University of Utah's IRB, visit their website or contact the IRB at irb@hsc.utah.edu. 

Exempt research is no greater than minimal risk and fits within an exemption category (see appendices in the IRB's Exempt Research Guidelines). These studies are exempt from most of the requirements in the federal regulations for protection of human research subjects. These studies must also follow state laws and University policies applicable to research. Studies that qualify for exemption must adhere to principles of sound research design and ethics.

Exemption determinations are made by a designated IRB reviewer. In limited circumstances, investigators may obtain an exemption determination using a guided application process in the Electronic Research Integrity and Compliance Administration system (ERICA). Guided exemptions are only offered for eligible projects based on answers in the new study application and cannot be requested by investigators. Investigators have the option to request that an IRB reviewer make the exemption determination rather than relying on the guided application process.

CHPC Information

The Center for High Performance Computing (CHPC) deploys and operates high performance computational resources and provides advanced user support and training. It also serves as an expert team to broadly support the increasingly diverse research computing and data needs on campus. These needs include support for big data, big data movement, data analytics, security, virtual machines, Windows science application servers, protected environments for data mining and analysis of protected health information, and advanced networking

To use the L2 Historical Voter Files, you must have a CHPC account and only access the data through CHPC's Protected Environment (PE). To request an account, you must have an active uNID. For more information and to request an account, see the CHPC's Accounts page. 

To use he L2 Historical Voter Files, you must first complete your request through the Marriott Library's Access Request and Terms of Use Agreement Form.

For more information about CHPC, visit their website (https://www.chpc.utah.edu) or contact CHPC at helpdesk@chpc.utah.edu.

Terms of Use Agreement

To request access to the L2 Historical Voter Data, you will need to fill out our Access Request and Terms of Use Agreement Form. To access request form, you will need to log in using your UNID and password. When filling out the form, you will be asked to provide information about your planned use of the data and the status of your IRB application. You will also be required to upload a Data Management and Sharing Plan (DSMP) and agree to the following Terms of Use:

1. I acknowledge that because the L2 Historical Voter Data contain personally identifying information, I will take all appropriate steps to abide by the ethics and responsibilities of conducting research involving human subjects. All relevant authorities, e.g., the Institutional Review Board (IRB), a faculty advisor, or other oversight body approve of my research and plans for using these data responsibly. 
    
2. I acknowledge that, if approved, access is only granted to me and I will not share or otherwise make available the data, in whole or in part, to any other user; nor will I share login information for accessing the data. 
    
3. I acknowledge that access to the raw data for research validation or peer review of results, evaluations, and analyses may be permissible. If such sharing is required, I agree to contact, in writing, Research Data Management Services at the J. Willard Marriott Library (mlib-data@utah.edu) for permission before sharing any of the data with reviewers.
    
4. I agree to include a public acknowledgement of L2 in all research papers and other publications or communications, printed or electronic, that are based in whole or in part on the use of the L2 Historical Voter Data. 
    
5. I agree to take reasonable steps to secure the data so that it cannot be accessed by anyone other than myself. 
    
6. I acknowledge that I must follow all local, state, and federal legislation and regulations regarding the use of the data, including but not limited to regulations regarding communicating directly with voters identified in the L2 Historical Voter Data. 
    
7. I agree to not contact any individual using information made available through the L2 Historical Voter Data. 
    
8. I acknowledge that information contained in the L2 Historical Voter Data shall not be used, in whole or in part, as a factor: a) in establishing an individual’s eligibility for credit or insurance; b) in connection with underwriting individual insurance; c) in evaluating an individual for employment or promotions, reassignment or retention as an employee; d) in connection with a determination of an individual’s eligibility for a license or other benefit granted by governmental authority; or e) for soliciting survivors of deceased persons. 
    
9. I acknowledge that the L2 Historical Voter Data will only be used for noncommercial purposes. 
    
10. I acknowledge that the L2 Historical Voter Data will only be used for academic research.

Please direct any questions about the Access Request and Terms of Use Agreement Form to mlib-data@lists.utah.edu.