Election Protection Hotline (866-OUR-VOTE) Available to Support Voters in Georgia May 22 Primary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 18, 2018

CONTACT: press@lawyerscommittee.org, 202-662-8317

Election Protection Hotline (866-OUR-VOTE) available to support voters in Georgia May 22 primary

Hotline is a resource for voters who have questions or have problems voting during Tuesday’s primary election

WASHINGTON, D.C.,  – The nationwide non-partisan Election Protection Coalition, led by The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, in partnership with the Georgia Coalition for People’s Agenda, is working to protect the rights of all Georgia voters. Election Protection urges voters to call 866-OUR-VOTE if they need assistance voting in Tuesday’s primary, or to report instances of election misadministration, intimidation, or discrimination.

Trained volunteers will answer the Election Protection hotline live on Tuesday, May 22 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. EDT to assist any voter with questions or any voter who encounters problems at the polls. Areas of assistance include confirming voter registration status and polling place locations, and support in response to any voter suppression activities or problems voting.

“Election Protection stands ready to help ensure that everyone has the opportunity to exercise the fundamental right to vote,” said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “Voters can report complaints or any suspicious activity to the Election Protection hotline. Our goal is serve as a resource for all Georgia voters if they have any questions or need assistance when voting.”

“The Coalition for the People’s Agenda has a long history of protecting the right to vote and ensuring voters are able to cast their ballots without problems. Nonpartisan election protection volunteers are there to assist voters when asked and to alert election officials to problems that may be happening at their assigned polling locations. We believe our democracy is strengthened by having all voters involved in the political process voting for candidates and issues of their choice” stated Helen Butler, Executive Director

In 2016, Election Protection helped Georgia voters who required assistance in voting and who reported problems including precinct closures, registration, absentee ballot issues, long wait times, and equipment malfunction.

Polls are open in Georgia from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. EDT

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Election Protection is the nation’s largest nonpartisan voter protection coalition, led by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Through a dedicated team of trained legal and grassroots volunteers, Election Protection helps all American voters – including traditionally disenfranchised groups – gain access to the polls and overcome obstacles to voting. Election Protection offers a suite of hotlines to assist voters: 866-OUR-VOTE (English) – administered by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; 888-Ve-Y-Vota (Spanish/English) – administered by the NALEO Educational Fund; 888-API-VOTE (Multiple Asian languages/English) – administered by APIAVote & Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC; and 1-844-Yalla-US (Arabic/English) – administered by the Arab American Institute. The coalition has more than 100 partners—including Advancement Project, Alliance for Youth, Asian American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Brennan Center for Justice, Common Cause, Democracy Initiative, League of Women Voters of the United States, NAACP, National Bar Association, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, State Voices, Sojourners, Religious Action Center, Rock the Vote and Verified Voting Foundation, as well as labor unions—at the national, state and local levels and provides voter protection services nationwide and year round. For more information about Election Protection and the 866-OUR-VOTE hotline, please visit www.866ourvote.org.