Slide 1

PROTECTING THE VOTE 2012: STRATEGIES & RESOURCES Trainer: Jenny Flanagan, Common Cause Facilitated By: Hope Wood, NOI

Slide 2

FOLLOWING THE LAW ELECTIONS.NEWORGANIZING.COM

Slide 3

FOLLOWING THE LAW WWW.AFJ.ORG

Slide 4

AGENDA Election Day threats Voter Protection strategies Election Protection: Field program

Slide 5

Presenter: Jenny Flanagan Director of Voting and Elections Common Cause

Slide 6

WHEN WE VOTE, WE ARE ALL EQUAL

Slide 7

US History: Voting Rights Expansion VOTING IS OUR RIGHT. 1790 Only white male adult property- owners have the right to vote. 1810 Last religious requisite for voting is eliminated 1850 Property ownership and tax requisites eliminated by 1850. 1870 The 15th Amendmt passed, gives former slaves vote. 1920 The 19th Amendmt passed, gives women vote. 1964 The 24th Amendment bans the poll tax 1965 Voting Rights Act 1971 The 26th amendment sets the minimum voting age at 18.

Slide 8

2011 LEGISLATURES DRIVE VOTER SUPPRESSION

Slide 9

Slide 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.

Slide 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?"

Slide 12

NEW MEXICO

Slide 13

PENNSYLVANIA

Slide 14

Reports of deceptive Practices in 2008 George Mason University Provosts 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. VIRGINIA

Slide 15

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 COMMON ISSUES ON ELECTION DAY

Slide 16

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 TAKE A STAND FOR VOTING RIGHTS

Slide 17

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 resourceswww.apvotes.org 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 dont vote, you cant complain. VOTER EMPOWERMENT Voting is our civic duty, and its something we do to show our country and children that we are proud to be American.

Slide 18

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.orgwww.866ourvote.org 1866-OUR VOTE and 1-888 VE Y VOTA are live now Share the EP app INCLUDE VOTING RIGHTS INFO WITH EXISTING PROGRAMS

Slide 19

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 JOIN LOCAL ELECTION ADMINISTRATION COALITIONS

Slide 20

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 VOLUNTEER WITH THE NATIONS LARGEST NON PARTISAN COALITION WORKING TO:

Slide 21

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

Slide 22

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 B EFORE E LECTION D AY

Slide 23

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 Americas voters ON ELECTION DAY

Slide 24

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

Slide 25

check registration, find polling place, FAQs and more SMART PHONE APP

Slide 26

COALITION STRUCTURE National Call Centers Local Call Centers Volunteers on the ground National Command Center Voters National Call Centers

Slide 27

Local Command Centers Mobile Field Managers Mobile Legal Volunteers Grassroots Volunteers FIELD PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Slide 28

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 GROUND GAME: MONITOR THE POLLS

Slide 29

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO GET INVOLVED: EMAIL POLLWORKERS@COMMONCAUSE.ORG CONTACT: JENNY FLANAGAN DIRECTOR OF VOTING AND ELECTIONS COMMON CAUSE JFLANAGAN@COMMONCAUSE.ORGPOLLWORKERS@COMMONCAUSE.ORG JFLANAGAN@COMMONCAUSE.ORG

Slide 30

WWW.NEWORGANIZING.COM/TOOLBOX