Lehigh LWV Mounts Election Protection Effort

Allentown (October 31, 2016) – The League of Women Voters of Lehigh County is proud to announce our partnership with the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania and Common Cause PA in working to make sure every voter has a positive experience at the polls on November 8.

LWVLC, LWVPA, and Common Cause PA are actively recruiting and training election observers who will be stationed at targeted polling places on Election Day to help answer questions from voters and to serve as eyes and ears on the ground for the larger PA Election Protection coalition. This is a strictly nonpartisan effort and we encourage volunteers from all political affiliations to sign up and help ensure that Election Day runs smoothly. If you are interested, please sign up at www.protectthevote.com.

“Very quickly, our community has supported this initiative by offering classrooms for training and a staging area for our volunteers on Election Day.” said Janet K. Little, President, League of Women Voters of Lehigh County

“With the heightened partisanship and troubling allegations of voter fraud, it’s more important than ever that every eligible voter is able to cast their ballot,” said Susan Carty, President of the LWVPA. “We are thrilled to be working with the League of Women Voters of Lehigh County on this effort – their positive relationships in their community as well as their dedication to voter empowerment and willingness to go the extra mile, have been a real asset to this project.”

This partnership is a crucial part of the statewide effort to support any eligible voter who wishes to cast a ballot on Election Day. In Pennsylvania, voters who have questions about where their polling place is or need to report problems or obstacles on Election Day should call the Election Protection coalition suite of hotlines, including the 866-OUR-VOTE hotline (866-687-8683) administered by the Lawyers’ Committee; 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682) administered by NALEO Educational Fund; and 888-API-VOTE (888-273-8683) administered by APIAVote and Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC.

The Election Protection coalition is prepared to assist voters with:

•           Questions about polling locations and registration status.

•           Improper challenges at the polls.

•           Voter intimidation.

•           Polling places that are not open or that have very long lines.

•           Poll workers improperly asking for photo ID from voters.

•                 Questions about their absentee ballots.

Election Protection hotline information:

Toll-free English-language hotline: The Lawyers’ Committee’s 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) is currently staffed live daily through Election Day.

Toll-free Spanish-English bilingual hotline: NALEO Educational Fund’s 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682) is staffed live year-round.

Toll-free Asian-language hotline: Asian Americans Advancing Justice—AAJC and APIAVote’s 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683) hotline provides voters with assistance in numerous Asian languages and will be staffed live through Election Day.

“The purpose of the Election Protection hotline and initiative is to answer voters’ questions about the democratic process so they can make their own choices in the polling booth.” said Janet K. Little, President, League of Women Voters of Lehigh County