FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Michigan Election Coalition
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Contact: Jessica Tramontana, jessica@progressmichigan.org, (517) 974-6302
866-OUR VOTE hotline has received hundreds of reports of machine malfunctions and lack of worker training on proper procedures
LANSING – The nonpartisan Michigan Election Coalition has received hundreds of calls to their voter protection hotline, reporting dozens of cases of broken voting machines in Metro Detroit. The hotline 866-OUR VOTE was set up to help facilitate voter questions or report problems. A high concentration of Michigan residents report machines aren’t functioning properly in Metro Detroit, resulting in long lines and incorrect procedures being followed by election staff.
Voting advocates are urging Michigan residents to be patient by waiting in line and not leaving precincts. Also, voters have the right to complete their ballots, and volunteers should store your ballot in a closed compartment within the machines.
“We need to ensure that every vote is counted properly,” said Jocelyn Benson, Executive Director of the Michigan Center for Election Law. “Unfortunately, we have received dozens of calls reporting broken voting machines, and improper procedures by election staff. This underscores a need to upgrade voting machines and provide better training of poll workers in future elections. For now, we are urging voters to stay in line and complete their ballots. While broken machines are being fixed, ballots should be stored securely within the voting machines to keep lines moving. If anyone encounters any other problems or has questions about voting, we urge you to call the hotline so we can help you.”
The 866-OUR-VOTE hotline is the nation’s largest non-partisan voter protection coalition, and aims to assist voters with questions about polling locations, absentee voting, or any other problems they might encounter on Election Day.
Voters can access a website at 866OurVote.org for answers to questions about polling locations, and voting requirements, and procedures in Michigan. Spanish language assistance is available at 1-888-Ve-Y-Vota (1-888-83-9-8682) — or veyvota.org.
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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.