Ending Confusion about Election Incident Reporting System(s)

[garybeck]

There has been confused discussion about the various election hotlines, which are better to call, etc, and which ones make their data available to the public. I have done more research on this and this should clear things up a bit.



There are essentially TWO main reporting entities:



1) 1-866-MYVOTE1 and 1-877-GOCNN08

These two numbers are for the same agency. They each go to a different call center but the data is combined into a single database.

It is run/sponsored by CNN, Common Cause, NAACP, Voter Action, and others.

The audio of each call is recorded.

NONE OF THE DATA will be made available to the public. ZIPPO ! There is NO website where you can view or download any reports or data whatsoever.

Voters can simply record their incident on a "message machine" and are not offered any assistance from the hotline. At the end they are given the phone number of their local elections board (or transferred directly) if they need further assistance.

Reporting and analysis of the data (audio recordings) will be made available ONLY to the organizations involved, who may or may not share it with the public.



2) 1-866-OUR-VOTE
This one is sponsored by Verified Voting, Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights, Election Protection, and National Campaign for Fair Elections

Each call is taken by a live person and logged directly into the database.

ALL data is made available to the public in real time on this website: http://ourvotelive.org. There is no effort to filter or delay the information. They want it ALL to get out there and for us to see it all and share it with others. The only data they withhold from the public is the callers' identifaction and contact information.

Each call is classified by type of problem and state.

Operators are trained election workers, lawyers, paralegals, etc, who can help resolve issues.



3) 1-888-SAVE-VOTE

This is listed in some places as a phone number to call with problems on election day, however it is NOT ACTIVE. Do not call this number, and do not recommend to people to call this number!





Based on the above, I make the following recommendations:

If someone has an incident, they should call BOTH #1 and #2.
If they can only call one, call #2 (866-OUR-VOTE). Transparency is important! But BOTH is best.
If people don't call #1, the legal team at Voter Action won't see the data, and we want them to.
If you are interested in viewing the data, go to http://ourvotelive.org. After talking directly with folks at Verified Voting and the Lawyer's Committee, I feel confident they are not filtering the data they release to the public. Expect the same (or better) reporting as what we had in 2004 from EIRS, which I thought was pretty good.

[OnTheOtherHand]

1. typo?

"If people don't call #1, the legal team at Voter Action won't see the data, and we want them to."

[garybeck]

2. no, that's not a typo

i'm saying, if they only call #2, and don't call #1, then the organization Voter Action, who is involved in #2, but not #1, won't get to see that call.

I consider Voter Action to be a good group of lawyers and I want them to see and hear these incidences, so I don't want people to just call #2 and leave out #1.

Having said that, transparency is very important and only #2 offers that. So if the caller is unwilling to call both numbers I would steer them to #2.

clear as mud?

[OnTheOtherHand]

3. umm...

I think you mean, "then the organization Voter Action, who is involved in #1 (MYVOTE1), but not #2 (OURVOTE), won't get to see that call." Is that right?

Good point. I forgot that Voter Action is involved with MYVOTE1, which could make it more useful than it would otherwise be. I agree with your argument for calling OURVOTE if one must choose just one.

[BeFree]

4. Good info Gary

Now, some people, as you saw, need to be talked to using 8th grade level communication. It was plainly evident in the OP that if one didn't call #1 the lawyer group wouldn't get to read the data, and if it isn't clear to anyone now....., well it takes all kinds, eh?

My only complaint is that I didn't have a secret ballot....but does that even matter?

[eridani]

5. Very useful. Some online links--

E-Voting Problems and How to Stop Them

http://www.alternet.org/democracy/104392/thirteen_election_integrity_experts%3A_e-voting_problems_and_how_to_stop_them/


Bring a video camera with you and VIDEO YOUR VOTE.
http://videothevote.org/

What to Do if You Have Problems Voting
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Stop-Drop-and-Poll--Wha-by-Mary-Mancini-081023-1.html

If you feel your voting rights have been denied because of race, religion, etc... contact the Department of Justice.
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/election2006contact.php


What To Do If You See Voting Machines Flipping Votes
http://www.velvetrevolution.us/electionstrikeforce/2008/10/what_to_do_if_you_see_voting_m.html