How to Report Voting Rights Problems

How to Report Voting Rights Problems Due to the protections of four federal voting rights laws, cases of qualified voters being improperly denied their right to vote or register to vote are now rare. However, in every major election, some voters are still improperly turned away from the polling place, or encounter conditions that voting difficult or confusing. Some of these incidents are accidental, others are intentional, but all should be reported. What Should be Reported? Any action or condition you feel prevented or was intended to prevent you from voting. Just few examples include; polls opening late or closing early, running out of ballots or having your identity or voter registration status improperly challenged. Any action or condition you feel made it difficult for you to vote, including but not limited to; lack of handicapped accessibility and accommodation, lack of assistance for people with limited English ability, confusing ballots, lack of privacy while voting, generally unhelpful or unknowledgeable poll workers or officials. How to Report Voting Problems If you experience any problem or confusion while voting report the situation to one of the poll workers or election officials immediately. Do not wait until you have finished voting. If the election officials at the polling place are unable or unwilling to help you, the problem should be reported directly to the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. There are no special forms to use or procedures to followjust call the Civil Rights Division toll-free at (800) 253-3931, or contact them by mail at: Chief, Voting SectionCivil Rights Division Room 7254 - NWBDepartment of Justice950 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.Washington, DC 20530 The Department of Justice also has the authority to station federal election observers and monitors in polling places considered to present a potential for discrimination or other voting rights violations. The jurisdiction of DOJ election observers is not limited to federal-level elections. They may be dispatched to monitor elections for any position, anywhere in the nation, from President of the United states to city dogcatcher. Any observed potential violations of the Voting Rights Act, or any other action determined by the observers to be an attempt to influence certain voters or to prevent them from voting will be reported to the DOJs Civil Rights Division for further corrective action. In the Nov. 2006 elections, the Department of Justice sent 850 Civil Rights Division election monitors to 69 jurisdictions in 22 states.