This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/05/us/politics/voters-turned-away-polling-stations.html
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| How to Ensure You Are Able to Vote — and Avoid Being Turned Away at the Polls | How to Ensure You Are Able to Vote — and Avoid Being Turned Away at the Polls |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Voting shouldn’t be hard. But in some states, restrictive voting laws typically passed by Republicans and disproportionately affecting minorities can make it difficult. | Voting shouldn’t be hard. But in some states, restrictive voting laws typically passed by Republicans and disproportionately affecting minorities can make it difficult. |
| A recent report from the United States Commission on Civil Rights found that federal actions to enforce voting rights for minorities have declined in the five years since the Supreme Court struck down the core of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which had required nine states to seek federal approval before changing their election laws. | A recent report from the United States Commission on Civil Rights found that federal actions to enforce voting rights for minorities have declined in the five years since the Supreme Court struck down the core of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which had required nine states to seek federal approval before changing their election laws. |
| In Georgia, the “exact match” law, which was passed by the state’s Republican-led Legislature in 2017, mandates that personal information on a voter registration form exactly match government databases. A missing hyphen could be grounds for a registration to be suspended, and the law has held up the processing of 53,000 new registrations — mainly of African-Americans. | |
| In Ohio, thousands of voters were purged from the voting rolls in 2016 because they hadn’t voted in recent years and didn’t respond to a mailed postcard from election officials, a policy upheld by the Supreme Court. (In October, federal judges ordered the state to allow people who had been kicked off the rolls for not voting to participate in this year’s election.) | In Ohio, thousands of voters were purged from the voting rolls in 2016 because they hadn’t voted in recent years and didn’t respond to a mailed postcard from election officials, a policy upheld by the Supreme Court. (In October, federal judges ordered the state to allow people who had been kicked off the rolls for not voting to participate in this year’s election.) |
| Other problems abound: Voters are sometimes asked to present identification when it isn’t required, turned away because of an administrative error. And sometimes polling places move or are closed. | Other problems abound: Voters are sometimes asked to present identification when it isn’t required, turned away because of an administrative error. And sometimes polling places move or are closed. |
| How often does this happen? | How often does this happen? |
| “More often than we should see it,” said Kristen Clarke, the president and executive director for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. | “More often than we should see it,” said Kristen Clarke, the president and executive director for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. |
| Polling workers aren’t always educated about a state’s latest policies, Ms. Clarke said, so voters can be better equipped at the polls if they know their rights. | Polling workers aren’t always educated about a state’s latest policies, Ms. Clarke said, so voters can be better equipped at the polls if they know their rights. |
| Here’s what to do if you’re told you cannot vote — and how to minimize the chances of it happening in the first place. | Here’s what to do if you’re told you cannot vote — and how to minimize the chances of it happening in the first place. |
| Before Election Day arrives on Nov. 6, double-check whether you’re registered, regardless of whether you’ve voted in the past. | Before Election Day arrives on Nov. 6, double-check whether you’re registered, regardless of whether you’ve voted in the past. |
| Start by contacting your state’s board of elections, or search for your status on the nonpartisan websites Rock the Vote or Vote.org. | Start by contacting your state’s board of elections, or search for your status on the nonpartisan websites Rock the Vote or Vote.org. |
| If you are not registered, check your state’s registration deadline: It might not be too late. Fifteen states and the District of Columbia allow voters to register as late as Election Day. | If you are not registered, check your state’s registration deadline: It might not be too late. Fifteen states and the District of Columbia allow voters to register as late as Election Day. |
| The Election Protection website, run by a nonpartisan coalition, highlights ways to register online, and be sure to research where your polling place is so you know where to go on Election Day. | The Election Protection website, run by a nonpartisan coalition, highlights ways to register online, and be sure to research where your polling place is so you know where to go on Election Day. |
| Oftentimes, voters assume an ID is required to vote, but that is not true in many states. | Oftentimes, voters assume an ID is required to vote, but that is not true in many states. |
| There are 34 states with voter identification laws. The National Conference of State Legislatures lists the exact requirements for each one on its website. | There are 34 states with voter identification laws. The National Conference of State Legislatures lists the exact requirements for each one on its website. |
| The rules vary widely. Some states require photo identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, while others will accept different types of documents, like utility bills or bank statements. | The rules vary widely. Some states require photo identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, while others will accept different types of documents, like utility bills or bank statements. |
| Student IDs are permitted in some states and not others. In Texas, for example, residents are permitted to vote with a state license to carry a handgun, but not with a student ID. | Student IDs are permitted in some states and not others. In Texas, for example, residents are permitted to vote with a state license to carry a handgun, but not with a student ID. |
| If you need help obtaining a government-issued ID, the nonprofit, nonpartisan Spread the Vote can provide guidance. It is operating in five states with plans to expand next year. | If you need help obtaining a government-issued ID, the nonprofit, nonpartisan Spread the Vote can provide guidance. It is operating in five states with plans to expand next year. |
| Don’t assume you should leave if a polling place is about to close. | Don’t assume you should leave if a polling place is about to close. |
| “If you are in line when the hours of operation close, they are required to stay open and allow you to vote — so do not get out of line,” even if you are told otherwise, said Carolyn DeWitt, president of Rock the Vote. | “If you are in line when the hours of operation close, they are required to stay open and allow you to vote — so do not get out of line,” even if you are told otherwise, said Carolyn DeWitt, president of Rock the Vote. |
| Make sure you know the rules “so you can be an advocate for yourself,” she said. | Make sure you know the rules “so you can be an advocate for yourself,” she said. |
| The Election Protection hotline can assist voters at any stage of the process, including registration, absentee and early voting, and casting a vote at the polls. If you find yourself turned away from the polls, call the hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE, which is administered by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a nonpartisan group. | The Election Protection hotline can assist voters at any stage of the process, including registration, absentee and early voting, and casting a vote at the polls. If you find yourself turned away from the polls, call the hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE, which is administered by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a nonpartisan group. |
| You may also call these bilingual hotlines, which are also administered by nonpartisan organizations: 888-Ve-Y-Vota (for Spanish speakers); 844-Yalla-US (for Arabic speakers); or 888-API-VOTE (for Asian-Americans). | You may also call these bilingual hotlines, which are also administered by nonpartisan organizations: 888-Ve-Y-Vota (for Spanish speakers); 844-Yalla-US (for Arabic speakers); or 888-API-VOTE (for Asian-Americans). |
| The Justice Department also has a voting rights hotline (800-253-3931) and a complaint form for those who wish to report a possible violation of federal voting rights laws. | The Justice Department also has a voting rights hotline (800-253-3931) and a complaint form for those who wish to report a possible violation of federal voting rights laws. |
| Provisional ballots, sometimes referred to as “challenge ballots” or “affidavit ballots,” are used when someone’s eligibility to vote is unclear. | Provisional ballots, sometimes referred to as “challenge ballots” or “affidavit ballots,” are used when someone’s eligibility to vote is unclear. |
| Most of the time, these ballots are kept separate from the other ballots. Election officials determine whether they should be counted, a process that is determined by state law. | Most of the time, these ballots are kept separate from the other ballots. Election officials determine whether they should be counted, a process that is determined by state law. |
| “A lot of people think they need to ask for a provisional ballot, but in some instances they can cast a regular ballot,” Ms. DeWitt said. | “A lot of people think they need to ask for a provisional ballot, but in some instances they can cast a regular ballot,” Ms. DeWitt said. |
| If you’re wondering whether to fill one out, “the first thing to do is call Election Protection and they’ll tell you what to do,” said Kat Calvin, founder of Spread the Vote. | If you’re wondering whether to fill one out, “the first thing to do is call Election Protection and they’ll tell you what to do,” said Kat Calvin, founder of Spread the Vote. |
| Idaho, Minnesota and New Hampshire are the only states that do not issue provisional ballots. | Idaho, Minnesota and New Hampshire are the only states that do not issue provisional ballots. |
| Sometimes voters are harassed in a deliberate attempt to prevent them from voting or to coerce them into voting for or against a particular candidate. This can range from aggressive questioning of a voter’s eligibility to physical altercations. Voter intimidation is rare, and it is against the law, but if it happens to you, there are ways to fight back. | Sometimes voters are harassed in a deliberate attempt to prevent them from voting or to coerce them into voting for or against a particular candidate. This can range from aggressive questioning of a voter’s eligibility to physical altercations. Voter intimidation is rare, and it is against the law, but if it happens to you, there are ways to fight back. |
| Anyone threatened with violence should call 911. | Anyone threatened with violence should call 911. |
| Individuals may also report intimidation by calling the Election Protection hotline, filing voting complaints with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division by calling 800-253-3931, emailing voting.section@usdoj.gov, or submitting an online form. | Individuals may also report intimidation by calling the Election Protection hotline, filing voting complaints with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division by calling 800-253-3931, emailing voting.section@usdoj.gov, or submitting an online form. |
| [Make sense of the people, issues and ideas shaping the 2018 elections with our new politics newsletter.] | [Make sense of the people, issues and ideas shaping the 2018 elections with our new politics newsletter.] |