By Shanderia K. Posey
Editor
Besides a woman being a true contender for president on Election Day next month, Nov. 8 will also mark the first time in 50 years federal observers will be noticeably absent from polling places.
The absence of federal observers is just one reason why Election Protection – the nation’s largest nonpartisan voter protection coalition – is increasing its efforts to safeguard voting rights throughout America and in Mississippi. Led by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Election Protection offers several hotline numbers for people to call with questions about voter protection, voter intimidation, voter challenges, deceptive practices and provisional balloting.
The main number for English-language speakers is 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). The hotline is staffed weekdays from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. EST and will expand hours and days as Election Day nears. Callers will get questions answered by or report complaints to one of 5,000 lawyers and/or legal volunteers. The toll-free Spanish-language hotline is the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials’ 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682). It is available year-round. The toll-free Asian-language hotline is 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683).
Provided by Asian Americans Advancing Justice and Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote, voters needing assistance during election season in various Asian languages can call and leave a message and a volunteer will return their call. During a conference call Oct. 3, leaders from the four national nonpartisan members of Election Protection discussed predicted challenges of Election Day. Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, noted that calls have been made by one candidate to have untrained individuals monitoring the polls on Election Day.
She also noted this election will be the first without full protection of the Voting Rights Act. “Voter repression is alive and well,” Clarke said. The Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder in 2013 ruled Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 unconstitutional. Section 4(b) included the coverage formula to determine which states or local governments needed clearance from the federal government before making voting law changes. Section 5 of the Act required certain jurisdictions – specifically ones with histories of voter discrimination – to get the clearance. Without Section 4(b) being in effect, Section 5 became basically null. While speaking at the United Latin American Citizens National Convention in July 2016, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch emphasized the far-reaching effects of Shelby County v Holder in that the Justice Department will “rely much more on local groups and individuals to alert us to potentially unlawful acts, since jurisdictions no longer have to self-report.
“In the past, we have also relied heavily on election observers – specially trained individuals who are authorized to enter polling locations and monitor the process to ensure that it lives up to its legal obligations. Unfortunately, our use of observers is largely tied to the preclearance coverage formula that the Supreme Court found to be unconstitutional in Shelby County and so our ability to deploy them has been severely curtailed. Rest assured, we will continue to monitor elections to the extent that we can, but because of Shelby County, we will be sending out fewer people with fewer capabilities this November.” Among efforts to combat voter suppression, Election Protection will send out field monitors in some states and partner with organizations in other states to ensure polls are monitored. In Mississippi, the Mississippi State Conference NAACP has partnered with Election Protection to monitor polling places on Election Day.
On Election Day, the NAACP will man a local call center to answer voters’ questions and field complaints about voter happenings anywhere in the state. With nearly 70 NAACP branches in the state, the organization will have foot soldiers on the grounds to monitor polls. “We are maintaining a strong effort in Mississippi (which has had a) strong federal observer program in previous years,” Clarke said. Election Protection seeks to specifically address how recent voting changes may impact the 2016 election; how pollworkers, volunteers and voters can combat challenges to voting rights; and how minority voters can exercise their right to vote.
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