Know Your Rights Before Hitting the Polls

American voters are poised to make history one way or another next Tuesday, and election officials around the nation are bracing for what will likely be an unprecedented voter turnout of 130 million. There will seemingly be endless lines, voting machine problems and pitfalls, and tactics deemed as the usual political dirty tricks used to deter or discourage people from exercising their right to vote.

“Voter suppression can be by design or by accident. You may face poll workers who don’t know what they’re doing, give you bad information or won’t help you out. The machines might not be working and the workers aren’t prepared to help the crowds,” says Melanie Campbell, CEO and executive director of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation Inc. “But those who are responsible for election administration have to make sure they’ve allocated machines based on projected turnout, and it can’t be projections based on four years ago.”

According to David Bositis, senior research analyst at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, young or African American voters will be the most frequent targets. “When you decide who and how you’re going to challenge people, it’s helpful to have some attribute as a rule of thumb. That’s why race is handy,” Bositis says. “Republicans know that by at least 90 to one in past elections, and maybe even more this time, African Americans are going to vote Democrat. So for every hundred black voters that they can keep from the polls they’ve gained 80 votes.”

Typical voter suppression tactics might include demands for identification, evidence that a person is registered, and charges that he or she isn’t properly registered. Even before they line up to cast their ballots on Election Day, voters may receive recorded telephone calls, known as robocalls, or anonymous mailings giving them false information about when and where to vote or indicating that they cannot vote if they are facing foreclosure.

Do not be fooled, Campbell warns, adding that there are some important steps people should take before Election Day to ensure that they are able to vote and that their votes are counted.

He advises voters to verify their registration and poll location before Election Day. Call the Unity 08 Voter Assistance Hotline at 1-866-MYVOTE1 to ensure you are listed on the voter registration rolls with your local Board of Elections.

Even though you are certain you’ve registered properly and know where to go, polling sites are often changed at the last minute. And, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, states sometimes purge voters from the rolls if election officials cannot match their voter registration against information in other government databases. As a result, between 15% to 30% of all matches fail because of typos or administrative errors such as the discrepancy between a hyphen in someone’s name in one database but not another. Brennancenter.org and Blackcampaign.org can also provide voting information and barriers for each state.

Also, voters should not leave home without identification. To be safe, bring your voter registration card, driver’s license, government-issued photo ID, a paycheck, utility bill, or government document that includes your name and street address, Campbell says.

Some states may have new voting machines or ballot forms with which voters may be unfamiliar. You have a right to request help from poll workers about how to use the machines. Campbell, who cast an early ballot this week in Virginia, says that even she had to ask for assistance at one point, and advises others not hesitate to do so if they have any questions or feel uncertain about the process.

Campbell’s organization and other civil rights and legal groups will have lawyers and poll watchers at sites around the nation. According to the Brennan Center, minority communities and students have historically faced more challenges when voting. Voters who are challenged should seek the organization’s assistance immediately. If they cannot easily identify someone who can help, they should call 866-OUR-VOTE for legal assistance. In the event they are unable to resolve the situation right away, they have a right to cast a provisional ballot if they are certain they are registered, Campbell says.

Bositis believes the greatest number of voter suppression efforts will likely take place in states where the margins between the two presidential candidates are close. But, he adds, if Democrats are in control of a particular state, it will be harder to do. “In Ohio, for example, Democrats basically control the state government now, so they’re not going to acquiesce and let Republicans run roughshod. In fact, they’ve already defended some voting cases in court for this election and won,” Bositis says. “I know there will be some mischief, that’s just how the Republicans are. But I don’t know that it’s going to make any difference. Voting is going to be a pain for some people without question. But is this going to be something where the Republicans are going to be able to snatch victory that they don’t otherwise merit? No.”