Frequently Asked Questions about the Election Protection Program

A: Election Protection is a national network of nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations that work to protect all voters by providing information, resources and help for any issues voters experience. Election Protection volunteers can do many different things including: staff the hotlines to assist voters; serve as nonpartisan poll monitors (in their vehicles or with proper personal protection equipment) to identify issues and help voters at polling places; directly reach out and help voters through text messages and phone calls; monitor social media for disinformation; and more. Voters anywhere in the country can call the hotline numbers to find out information about where to vote and whether they need ID, and also to report long lines, problems with voting machines, and any other voting-related incidents. Those numbers are:

866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) – English language hotline
888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682) – Spanish language hotline
888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683) – Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, Tagalog
844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287) – Arabic language hotline

A: “Poll watchers” are people who assigned to observe the polls on behalf of a campaign or political party and certified by the election officials – often inside the polling place. In some states, partisan poll watchers have the ability to challenge voters eligibility in the polling place.

Some individuals, parties and campaigns may also be outside the polling place, calling themselves “poll watchers” or “election observers” or similar. They may be explicitly partisan and for a particular candidate or party. These individuals do not have the right to enter the polling place.

Our Election Protection program is nonpartisan and not affiliated with any campaign or party. We recruit and train volunteer poll monitors who do not enter the polling place, except in limited circumstances. As a nonpartisan poll monitor, you will stand (or be in a car) outside of the polling places, reporting any problems you see and helping ensure voters know their rights, report and solve issues that arise at the polling places.  Poll monitors need to attend trainings but do not need to be certified by election officials. Our training program is tailored to each individual state. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we are adjusting our in-person poll monitoring program to make sure our volunteers are safe and their health is protected.

A: Poll monitors and voters call the voter hotlines to report issues or get details on how to resolve a particular problem. This also documents the problem. Our trained legal team staffing the hotline address problems in real time and when necessary, reach out to the appropriate authorities. For example, if a polling place runs out of ballots, we will make sure the local Board of Elections or County officials know about the problem and can provide more ballots.

A: The Election Protection program is active in all 50 states with the legal hotline, and runs field programs in 30 states. We may not have in-person poll monitoring programs in every state. However, we do have remote volunteering opportunities, including voter outreach and education and social media monitoring. You can learn more about those by signing up on the main volunteer interest form on the homepage. You can also click here to see what steps you can take in your community to ensure every eligible voter is able to vote.

A: We have options suitable to everyone interested in volunteering. For in-person poll monitoring, schedules and locations vary by state. For voter outreach and social media monitoring, we have volunteer shifts happening every day. Every volunteer will attend training and commit to one more more volunteer activity.

A: Most states will provide poll monitor volunteers a t-shirt, and some states use large buttons or lanyards. We will ensure that all field poll monitors are able to protect their own health. All volunteers will wear something that: identifies them as a nonpartisan volunteer for Election Protection; promotes the 866-OUR-VOTE number; and includes “You have the right to vote” on it.

A: Yes – you will be trained in your state’s election law, what is and what isn’t permitted, and how to report and address each situation. Each state is different, which is why it is important to get training on your state’s laws and rules.

A: First and foremost, your in state training will address these types of issues.  Generally speaking, if you observe or experience any kind of disruption in or near a polling place, act quickly but calmly to report the situation. Do not confront anyone who is engaging in actions that may be intimidating to voters.  Instead, call one of the voter protection hotlines listed above and also report the situation to the election officials stationed inside that polling place. Only call law enforcement if you believe it is necessary to ensure your safety or the safety of someone else. If you are able to stay at the polling place until the situation is resolved, take notes on what is going on. Use your best judgment about whether filming the incident is appropriate, but be aware that some states have laws that prohibit taking photos or video inside a polling place.

A: Election Protection is a long-running nonpartisan campaign to ensure every eligible voter is able to vote coordinated by over 100 state, local and national partners, led by the Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and Common Cause. View all of the partners here.

A: Use our contact form here.

A: If you have a professional legal background (as an attorney, law student or paralegal) please contact the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law to use your legal expertise to help voters in this election. Please visit http://www.866ourvote.org/ to find opportunities – and thank you!