I'm not sure why a person wouldn't. Could be a reason it is being withheld. Have you tried checking by just first or first and middle initials, or middle name?

I would expect something recent to be recorded.

My dead husband's death in 2004 is there.

My sister was married to him.

I know how to spell the last name.

Perhaps, he was born again, and changed his last name?

Who knows?

was not the name he used? My husband's grandfather was called Paul all his life but his real name (and the name on his SS) was Irvin.

Same for voting stations.

They say that the dead are voting but it’s more like their names have not been removed.

And, the Social Security death index is used to clean up voting lists (at least in Minnesota - I imagine most states use it). My mom died in May of 2012 and, just out of curiosity I checked her registration before the November election and she had been taken off. I'm the only family member who would have reported her death and I only called the SS office.