FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from the Michigan Election Coalition
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Contact: Jessica Tramontana, jessica@progressmichigan.org, (517) 974-6302
866-OUR-VOTE hotline aims to educate, protect voters
LANSING – Members of the Michigan Election Coalition held a press conference at the Capitol today to announce new changes to the 866-OUR-VOTE toll-free hotline, a website at 866OurVote.org, and a new mobile application. Voting advocates say the hotline will help educate voters about their rights, and protect voters who face challenges voting on Election Day. The hotline is staffed live with trained volunteers who can help voters check their registrations, determine early voting hours, and find registration and polling locations throughout the election season.
“Our nation is strong when our democracy is strong, and our democracy is strongest when every citizen has free and full access to the voting booth,” said Jocelyn Benson, Executive Director of the Michigan Center for Election Law. “We’re committed to standing on guard to be sure that every Michigander has the ability to freely cast their ballots this November.”
In addition, voters can access the Election Protection website, 866OurVote.org, for information about voting procedures in their states. A new mobile application was also announced for voters across the state. The app shows polling locations, and also helps answer voter questions or report problems.
“There is nothing more crucial than ensuring eligible voters have the chance to cast their ballots,” said Melanie McElroy, Executive Director of Common Cause Michigan. “It is incredibly important that every voter know their rights and have the tools necessary to exercise the fundamental American right to vote.”
The hotline was available to Michigan voters during the August primary election, when hotline volunteers fielded calls related to Secretary of State Ruth Johnson’s confusing citizenship checkbox, which has since been overturned by a federal judge. Nearly 50 complaints from Michigan were reported by the 866-OUR-VOTE hotline on the day of the August election.
Spanish language assistance is available at 1-888-Ve-Y-Vota (1-888-839-8682) — or veyvota.org.
The hotline is a project of Election Protection, the nation’s largest non-partisan voter protection coalition, which will continue to assist voters with questions about voter registration, polling locations, absentee voting, or any other voting-related question in the days leading up to Election Day.
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The Michigan Election Coalition is a non-profit, non-partisan coalition comprised of dozens of organizations that represent members from a wide geographic range across the state.