Election Protection Roundup and "tweetable" election protection phone numbers

[flamingdem]

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 prohibit challenging any citizen's right to vote based upon race or other characteristics, and prohibit the intimidation of any person for exercising their right to vote. Although challenges are permitted under various state laws, challenges that are frivolous or based on insufficient evidence of ineligibility are not allowed.

Republican observers at polling places:

May not question voters about their credentials
May not impede or delay voters by asking for identification
May not videotape, photograph, or otherwise make visual records of voters or their vehicles
May not handout any literature outlining the fact that voter fraud is a crime

Twitter Series 1:

Republicans intimidating you at the polls? see my next 5 tweets. Election Protection support: call! 1-866-our-vote www.866ourvote.org

1.Republican observers at polling places may not question voters about their credentials. call! 1-866-our-vote www.866ourvote.org

2.Republican observers at polling places may not impede/delay voters by asking for identification. call! 1-866-our-vote www.866ourvote.org

3.Republican observers at polling places may not make audio/video/photo records of voters or their vehicles. call! 1-866-our-vote www.866ourvote.org

4.Republican observers at polling places may not handout any literature saying that voter fraud is a crime. call! 1-866-our-vote www.866ourvote.org

5. this series paraphrased from Steven D, SalCanz & poe @dailykos. call! 1-866-our-vote www.866ourvote.org

Twitter Series 2:

Election Day Problems? Call a hotline: 1-866-MYVOTE1 (866-698-6831) -the League of Women Voters will help!

Election Day Problems? Call a hotline: 1-866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) -the League of Women Voters will help!

Election Day Problems? Call a hotline:1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (en Español)- the League of Women Voters will help!


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Through our state of the art hotlines: 1-866-OUR-VOTE (administered by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law) and 1-888-Ve-Y-Vota (administered by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Education Fund), this website, and comprehensive voter protection field programs across the country, we provide Americans from coast to coast with comprehensive voter information and advice on how they can make sure their vote is counted.

Made up of more than 100 local, state and national partners, this year's coalition will be the largest voter protection and education effort in the nation's history.

Throughout the election process, our volunteers - more than 10,000 strong - will be entering data and information into OurVote live (developed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation), an interactive environment painting the most comprehensive picture of election irregularities from the perspective of the voter available anywhere. Unique in the excitement of this political season, Election Protection focuses on the voter - not on the political horse race - and provides guidance, information and help to any American, regardless of who that voter is casting a ballot for.

[flamingdem]

1. MOBILE AP available Election Protection

http://www.866ourvote.org/

Mobile Ap
http://www.866ourvote.org/pages/election-protection-smartphone-app

[flamingdem]

2. Voter ID info - which states require it?

http://www.866ourvote.org/pages/voter-id-info


While the voting rights community fights against these voter suppression tactics, we must adapt to the new reality that photo ID is required in certain states and take the steps to assist eligible voters obtain the necessary IDs in order to vote. Studies show that those without ID are disproportionately likely to be African American, Latino, low-income voters, young adults, senior citizens, and people with disabilities. For many of these eligible persons, it is no simple matter to obtain the necessary ID and for that reason we must educate voters about the new ID requirements and empower them to take the steps to obtain ID so they can cast a ballot in November.

States requiring government-issued photo ID:
Georgia
Indiana
Kansas
Tennessee

States where photo ID law is blocked but we must still prepare:
Alabama (has not been precleared with DOJ)
Mississippi (has not been precleared with DOJ)
South Carolina (was not precleared by DOJ, still in litigation)
Texas (federal court rejected voter ID law and will not be in effect for General Election)
Wisconsin (permenantly enjoined and will not be in effect for General Election)
Pennsylvania (not in effect for 2012 General Election)

Below are resources for voters on how to obtain photo ID as well as tools for activists and organizations working to help voters acquire ID and show the impact these laws have on eligible voters.

Voter ID stories: Think getting “free” ID is easy? Think again.

Voter ID Toolkits: Find out how to get photo ID in states where it is required!

Got ID? Report: Guide to empower community groups to help voters get ID!

[flamingdem]

3. Update: Election Protection of Wisconsin are dismayed to hear reports today that the Romney campaign

volunteer (elections) observer training included misinformation about Wisconsin voting laws. Election Protection coalition members including the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin are training poll watchers to be observers who will be non-confrontational and professional in documenting problems voters may face on Election Day.


Wisconsin Election Protection Poll Watchers Dedicated to Nonpartisanship

October 30, 2012

CONTACT:
Ann Jacobs, Attorney, Domintz & Skemp, S.C., [phone]
Stacy Harbaugh, Communications Director, [phone], [email protected]
Andrea Kaminski, Executive Director, [phone], [email protected]

MILWAUKEE, WI - Members of the nonpartisan Wisconsin Election Protection of Wisconsin are dismayed to hear reports today that the Romney campaign's volunteer (elections) observer training included misinformation about Wisconsin voting laws. Election Protection coalition members including the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin are training poll watchers to be observers who will be non-confrontational and professional in documenting problems voters may face on Election Day.

"The League's volunteers will be trained to be non-confrontational observers and to report problems to chief elections inspectors or to nonpartisan Election Protection attorneys," said League of Women Voters of Wisconsin Executive Director Andrea Kaminski. "All volunteers will be instructed to identify themselves when checking in at the polls. Their job will be to document what happens on Election Day - not to obstruct the process."

Wisconsin Election Protection poll watchers will be identifiable and our partners strive for accuracy and truthfulness in voting rights materials and poll watcher training. The primary goal of Wisconsin Election Protection is to empower citizens with the facts about the voting process and be of assistance if people are denied their right to vote.

"Ultimately it is the responsibility of the poll workers and the chief elections inspectors to stop intimidation and disruption at the polls," said Ann Jacobs, Legal Coordinating Committee member and Director of Attorney Training. "Anyone whose actions disrupt the order of polling places do a disservice to well-trained poll workers and give nonpartisan poll watchers a bad name."

Wisconsin Election Protection's 866 OUR VOTE (866-687-8683) hotline is live through Election Day. Voters who have questions about their voting rights, are turned away from the polls or who see voter intimidation can call this nonpartisan hotline to speak with an attorney or volunteer trained in Wisconsin elections law.

"The right to vote should never be treated as a partisan political football," said Marcia Johnson-Blanco with the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. "No person affiliated with a campaign should be training volunteers to foster confusion and misinformation at the polling place. Election Protection will work with Election Officials in Wisconsin and across the country to ensure that all eligible Americans are able to vote."

Wisconsin Election Protection is a nonpartisan coalition of organizations whose purpose is to protect voting rights, expose and prevent voter intimidation, and to preserve access to the polls for all voters. For more on Wisconsin Election Protection, visit our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter. Find more about the national Election Protection project online.

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[flamingdem]

4. please tweet numbers thanks n/t