POLL WORKER RECRUITMENT Your Be the Judge and

ABOUT US About Us A national hub of voter engagement resources and trainings to help nonprofits integrate nonpartisan voter participation into ongoing activities and services. Find more about our mission and partners on our website:

TODAY’S PRESENTERS Who Jenny Rose Flanagan Director of Voting and Elections Common Cause

When we vote, we are all equal

US History: Voting Rights Expansion 1790 Only white male adult property- owners have the right to vote Last religious requisite for voting is eliminated 1850 Property ownership and tax requisites eliminated by The 15th Amendmt passed, gives former slaves vote The 19th Amendmt passed, gives women vote The 24th Amendment bans the poll tax 1965 Voting Rights Act 1971 The 26th amendment sets the minimum voting age at 18.

Voting Rights Retrenchment Since the beginning of 2011, 41 states have introduced legislation or enacted laws that would curb access to voting in some way. Source: Brennan Center for Justice, 2012 Summary of Voting Law Changes

Government Suppression Efforts Voter suppression comes in the form of government action, such as legislation Requiring Strict Voter ID Limiting Voter Registration Requiring Proof of Citizenship Shortening Early Voting

Voter Intimidation and Deceptive Practices Election Day challenges to voters eligibility Bullies at the Ballot Box

Confusion over where to vote Accessibility for people with disabilities Use/misuse of provisional ballots Problems with voter registration Voting machine failures Long Lines due to new laws Common issues on Election Day

Be a Poll Worker

Poll Workers Well-trained election workers is the most effective way to ensure that every eligible vote is able to be counted. Election officials and the workers behind the desk are the key to a smooth and successful Election Day In many areas, translators are also needed to assist non-English speaking voters by translating voting information and answering questions.

Poll Workers Work with county election staff at the polls Check Voter IDs, give out ballots, prepare voting locations Receive training from the county Receive a small stipend from the county for your work Work on Election Day (12-14 hours)

Poll Workers Properly implement ID requirement to ensure voters can case a regular ballot. Help voters get to the correct precinct so her/his ballot can ultimately be counted. Election workers can head off and diffuse inappropriate challenges to individuals’ rights to cast their ballots. Dispel voter confusion, particularly in states that recently enacted restrictive legislation.

Election Protection Coalition Nationwide non partisan program designed to assist voters and document problems Toll free hotlines: OUR-VOTE and Ve-Y-Vota Coordinates legal and non-legal field programs at targeted polling places Solves problems and litigates where necessary Collects data about voters’ experiences

Monitor election activities from outside the polling area Answer voter questions Refer voters to the hotline if there are problems Alert the hotline if you see or hear from voters about intimidation Talk to voters about their experience in voting Be a Poll Monitor

Get Involved! Your nonprofit can help protect the vote; Instill a sense of civic duty Ensure that poll workers represent the communities we care about by encouraging staff, volunteers, and constituents to serve as poll workers.

Our responsibility, our duty Voting is the right our democracy is built on! It is something that links us all together as Americans. Generations of men and women have laid down their lives to protect this right, both in war and in our struggles for civil rights. Now it is our turn!

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