Election Protection

by Alexandra Acker

On Election Day, Election Protection's voter assistance hotline, 866-OUR-VOTE, received over 19,000 calls from voters confronting serious election administration problems from 49 of the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia.

Our volunteers assisted with calls about polls that didn't open on time, massive confusion regarding voter ID procedures, electronic voting machine glitches, the steering of voters toward provisional ballots, refusals to allow eligible voters to use provisional ballots when merited, questions about where to vote, and long lines. Many of these issues are due to under-trained, underpaid, overworked officials, and once again, many appear concentrated among traditionally disenfranchised communities.

This year, we learned again that too many voters are victims of an election system that's broken. Even the Lawyers' Committee's Executive Director, Barbara Arnwine, had to wait over two and a half hours to vote in Prince George's County, Maryland. Barbara was able to wait to cast her ballot, but we know so many others had to leave the line before voting because of work, child care, or other responsibilities.

Data collected through the Election Protection hotline, volunteers in the field, and other reports from voters will be used to help inform our election reform agenda at the federal, state, and local level.

Read about Election Protection and the Lawyers' Committee in the news:

Associated Press, Early 'typical' glitches reported with electronic vote machines

Associated Press, Levers and lawyers: Legal hot line becomes Election Day custom

Associated Press, Problems crop up early as poll workers tangle with new voting machines, databases, ID rules

Associated Press, Video the Vote calling on citizens to monitor polls

Chicago Tribune, First principally electronic election marked with minor glitches

Columbus Dispatch, Voting hours extended after legal flap

Dayton Daily News, Lawyers will stand ready to sort out voting issues

Forbes, No Chads, But Electronic Voting Glitches

Newhouse News, Video the Vote Seeks Citizen Journalists to Record Problems Nov. 7

The New York Times, As Vote Nears, Parties Prepare For Legal Fights

The New York Times, Polling Places Report Some Snags; Even Top Politicians Have Trouble

The Wall Street Journal online, Trouble at the Polls? Call a New York Lawyer

The Washington Post, Exit-Poll Withdrawal and Rage at the Machines

The Washington Post, Maryland Democrats Say GOP Plans to Block Voters

USA Today, Many eyes will watch the polls; Groups anticipating Election Day problems