Have you looked into electoral roll? When you can get instant exact answer at a people search engine, why squint to search million registered in voters list? Many websites still put up sections for electoral rolls so I guess there are more people than my father who believes it is useful.
My father makes me check the Internet regularly for any opening of restricted electoral rolls. As a former law enforcer he was able to get a hold this private file and he miss being well informed of people he encounter. I only keep coming across the public version, but gratefully I get new information every time I open one. Otherwise my father will stay beside me and open all files with electoral rolls till we are both sleepy. (We are both insomniacs). I have been surprised many times at what personal data is revealed to the public from the public version but father remains unsatisfied as he know many details get omitted in public files. He said the police know the danger of not knowing someone’s motive for research so sensitive information is protected.
Online availability of electoral rolls even the unsatisfactory type is a relief to my father who still volunteers for community safety. He does not need to hold his breath to fit between shelves and tables, or bend and stretch at libraries and electoral offices to reach documents of our county residents. Mostly he wants to know who are and are not active voters in our area especially the young ones. He also checks for newcomers and make sure they are welcomed or kept an eye on depending on their contribution to the neighborhood: vandalism or beautification. He also keeps an update of the quntity of each age group so as to manage the tasks given to them better. I wonder what is the benefit of electoral rolls to others.
