protecting the vote 2012: strategies & resources

1. protecting the vote 2012: strategies & resources Trainer: Jenny Flanagan, Common Cause Facilitated By: Hope Wood, NOI

2. FOLLOWING THE LAW Elections.neworganizing.com

3. FOLLOWING THE LAW www.afj.org

4. Election Day threats • Voter Protection strategies • Election Protection: Field program

5. Jenny Flanagan Director of Voting and Elections Common Cause

6. When we vote, we are all equal

7. Voting is our right. • US History:Voting Rights Expansion

8. 2011 legislatures drive voter suppression

10. Groups across the country– many affiliated with the Tea Party – are organizing volunteers to combat what they claim is rampant “voter fraud.” These volunteers are combing lists of voters to compare names against public records and advocate for purges. They also plan to train 1 million people to go to the polls on Election Day and make parts of the voting experience like “driving and seeing the police following you.”

11. Tea Party Groups Work to Remove Names From Ohio Voter Rolls By Michael Finnegan September 26, 2012, 6:35 p.m. CINCINNATI — Lori Monroe, a 40-year-old Democrat who lives in central Ohio, was startled a few weeks ago to open a letter that said a stranger was challenging her right to vote in the presidential election. Monroe, who was recovering from cancer surgery, called the local election board to protest. A local tea party leader was trying to strike Monroe from the voter rolls for a reason that made no sense: Her apartment building in Lancaster was listed as a commercial property. "I'm like, really? Seriously?" Monroe said. "I've lived here seven years, and now I'm getting challenged?"

12. New Mexico

13. Pennsylvania

14. Virginia Reports of deceptive Practices in 2008 George Mason University Provost’s email account hacked and used to send mass email to students announcing Election Day moved from Tuesday, November 4 to Wednesday, November 5. Virginia Tech students told by an elections registrar that registering to vote at their college address could jeopardize their scholarships, and their parents ability to claim them as dependents, and cause them lose coverage under their parents’ car and health insurance.

15. Common issues on Election Day • Confusion over where to vote • Long Lines due to new laws • Lack of accessibility for people with disabilities • Limited resources for bi lingual citizens • Overuse/misuse of provisional ballots • Problems with voter registration • Voting machine failures • Acts of intimidation and deception

16. TAKE A STAND FOR VOTING RIGHTS • Voter Empowerment • Member communications about rules for voting, key dates and resources • Utilize new messaging on how to talk about voting • Incorporate into existing programs • Train canvassers on voting rights issues in each state/region • Add Election Protection information on persuasion materials • Join local election administration coalitions • Meet with election officials • Address issues with local experts • Volunteer with Election Protection

17. Voter Empowerment • Voting is our civic duty, and it’s something we do to show our country and children that we are proud to be American. • Talk to your constituents about voting: Education about the ‘where when and how’ of voting is necessary. The most common questions we get about participation are about the basic rules. • Utilize messaging research to reach members and when talking with media: • Go to www.apvotes.org under tools and resources • In order to participate in our democracy and have your voices heard, all voters need to understand the rules in their state, register on time, and show up at the correct polling place. • Your vote makes a difference, and together, Americans’ voices count. If you don’t vote, you can’t complain.

18. Include voting rights info with existing programs • Train canvassers on voting rights issues in each state/region • Volunteers on issue or candidate campaigns can include voting information in their scripts • News of restrictive voting laws can be intimidating, assure voters that ‘we have their backs’ • Education about rules and requirements to vote • Add non partisan Election Protection information on persuasion materials • www.866ourvote.org • 1866-OUR VOTE and 1-888 VE Y VOTA are live now • Share the EP app

19. join local election administration coalitions • Stay up to date on key issues facing your state • Meet with election officials • Learn about education opportunities • Tap into local experts • Incorporate election issues into your post election work

20. Volunteer with the nations largest non partisan coalition working to: • Ensure voters have access to vote and have their vote be counted • Provide voters with necessary information on voting • Quickly identify problems and work to correct them • Gather information from election to illustrate the impact of existing laws and potential barriers voters face at the polls

21. ELECTION PROTECTION HAS TWO PHASES PRE-ELECTION DAY AND ELECTION DAY

22. Before Election Day Election Protection Local Legal Leadership • Meet with election officials • Support non-partisan civic engagement organizations • Solve problems • Educate and empower voters • Litigate when necessary • Prepare for Election Day

23. ON election Day • Targeted programs in over 20 states • Supports voters and records problems reported to the 1-866-OUR-VOTE and 1-888-Ve-Y-Vota hotlines • Coordinates legal and non-legal field deployments at targeted polling places • Solves problems • Litigates where necessary • Collects data to paint a clear picture of the problems plaguing America’s voters

24. 1-866-OUR-VOTE & 1-888-Ve-Y-Vota • phone lines open now • Staffed by attorneys, callers are able to seek information, ask questions, and report problems – inquiries may be simple or complex.

25. Smart Phone App • check registration, find polling place, FAQs and more

26. Coalition structure National Command Center National Call Centers National Call Centers National Call Centers Local Call Centers Local Call Centers Volunteers on the ground Voters

27. Field Program Overview • Local Command Centers • Mobile Field Managers • Mobile Legal Volunteers • Grassroots Volunteers

28. Ground game: monitor the polls • Track election activities from outside the polling area • Answer voter questions • Refer voters to the hotline if there are problems • Alert the hotline if you see or hear from voters about intimidation • Talk to voters about their experience in voting

29. For more information and to get involved: email pollworkers@commoncause.orgContact: Jenny FlanaganDirector of Voting and ElectionsCommon Causejflanagan@commoncause.org

30. www.neworganizing.com/toolbox