Nationwide, Non-Partisan 866-OUR-VOTE Election Protection Hotline Underway for Election Day

Election Protection, the nation's largest and longest-running nonpartisan voter protection coalition, has launched a nationwide effort to protect voting rights across the U.S. on Election Day. Election Protection, led by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, has launched 18 call centers based primarily at law firms across the country, to provide assistance to voters from coast to coast on its 866-OUR-VOTE hotline. The hotline is manned by over 4,000 trained legal volunteers, and their efforts are complemented by the deployment of thousands of volunteer poll monitors stationed around the country.

"This year, our Election Protection program has already responded to tens of thousands of voters throughout the United States," said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. "However, our past successes can't overshadow the unprecedented responsibilities we face on Election Day. Through Election Protection, we are working with a vast network of partners to provide comprehensive support for voters to ensure that every voice is heard this election cycle. We encourage all voters across the country who encounter obstacles at the polls or who are otherwise denied the right to cast a ballot to immediately contact 866-OUR-VOTE for help. Our end goal is to ensure that all eligible voters are able to participate this election cycle."

Election Protection connects with voters, using hotlines, poll monitors and voter education, as well as its expansive network of national partners and state advocates, to respond to any questions or concerns voters may have. This year, the program is particularly focused on the following issues:

• How recent voting restrictions have the potential to impact the 2018 election
• Even and fair implementation of voter ID laws in states like Missouri, North Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin
• Voter registration barriers, including impact of recent and aggressive voter purges, in states like Ohio, Georgia, and New York
• Improper challenges to voter eligibility at the polls
• Ongoing voter suppression concerns in Georgia, including state compliance with recently secured court orders concerning exact match and absentee ballots.
• Voter suppression faced by African Americans, Latinos and other racial minorities
• Native American voters' access to the polls in North Dakota
• Cybersecurity and the impact of technology problems on voters' access to the polls
• Election misinformation online and the response of social media.

Voters can seek answers to their questions or report problems through Election Protection at the following hotlines on Election Day from 6 a.m. - 11 p.m. EST.

• Toll-free English-language hotline: The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law's 866-OUR-VOTE hotline (866-687-8683)
• Toll-free Spanish/English hotline: NALEO's 888-VE-Y-VOTA hotline (888-839-8682)
• Toll-free Asian-language/English hotline: Advancing Justice | AAJC and APIAVote's 888-API-VOTE hotline (888-274-8683)
• Toll-free Arabic/English language hotline: Arab American Institute's 844-YALLA-US hotline (844- 925-5287)
• Texting "Our Vote" to 97779

Voters who are deaf or hearing impaired can contact 301-818-VOTE (301-818-8683) for assistance in American Sign Language, a service provided by the National Association for the Deaf.

These midterms are also marked by an increase in public concern over the cybersecurity of our elections, as fears of foreign interference and other technology vulnerabilities grow. During the 2018 primary season, Election Protection heard from many voters who could not vote or who experienced significant obstacles to voting, due to database problems, machine malfunctions, or lack of preparedness by poll workers responding to technology problems.