ELECTION PROTECTION

Election Protection – Legal Volunteers Needed for November 4 Election

The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (“Lawyers’ Committee”) and its coalition partners seek volunteer attorneys, paralegals and law students for Election Protection –the nation’s largest non partisan voter protection program for the November 4, 2008 election. Election Protection is a national coalition that works throughout the year to break down barriers to the ballot box for traditionally disenfranchised voters. On November 4, volunteers will respond to reported voting problems, including potential issues with voting machines, polling locations not opening up time, dissemination of misinformation by poll workers, and intimidation of voters.

How you can help:
1. Get involved early to organize Election Protection activities in their area by: coordinating with non-partisan grassroots organizations, doing earned media outreach, performing legal research, meeting with election officials, recruiting volunteers, and more.
2. Serving as a hotline call center volunteer on or before Election Day
3. Participating in a legal field deployment on Election Day to ensure the process is running properly.

While Election Protection is available to all voters across the country, it targets communities traditionally disenfranchised, including African Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, Latinos, Native Americans and other racially and ethnically diverse communities, seniors, young people, low-income voters and individuals with disabilities.

Volunteers must participate in a 1 ½ hour training session and are asked to sign up for a 4 - 5 hour shift on Election Day. Materials will be provided. The American Bar Association and the National Bar Association, along with many others, are co-sponsors of Election Protection. In addition, the Pro Bono Institute has determined that volunteering for Election Protection counts as pro bono. To volunteer, please sign up directly at www.866ourvote.org.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact mblanco@lawyerscommittee.org. Election Protection is a non-partisan effort and is not affiliated in any way with any candidate or political party.