YLAA Opportunity to Help Ensure that New York Voters Cast Ballots that Count!

YLAA calls on its members to volunteer for Election Protection, the nations largest non-partisan voter protection coalition on September 14, 2010, the day of the New York primary! There are two opportunities to assist the efforts to ensure that voters cast a meaningful ballot  the 1-866-OUR-VOTE hotline and mobile legal volunteers.  Election Protection is operated by the non-profit and non-partisan organization Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

For the first time in more than fifty years, New York State will be using a new method for voting --"optical scan" (think standardized tests) voting machines.  Due to confusing error messages and lack of public awareness around this new technology, voting experts fear that elderly, non-English speaking and minority voters will experience difficulties in voting that may lead to their vote not being counted.

You can help!  Volunteers with Spanish language skills are especially needed. Sign up to either be a mobile legal volunteer or a hotline volunteer!

Mobile Legal Volunteers (MLVs)

On Primary Day, teams of 2 MLVs will be assigned to a set of polling sites within the five boroughs. MLVs will:

o Conduct a survey specifically designed around the voting machine issue;

o Report any problems on the ground to the appropriate channels; and

o Assist voters by communicating with poll workers and the Election Protection hotline if any issues arise.

Hotline Volunteers

From the call center at Davis Polk & Wardwell in Midtown Manhattan, hotline volunteers will answer calls from voters on Primary Day and give voters the information and resources they need on issues ranging from voter registration, unhelpful poll workers, voting machine problems and voter intimidation.  Moreover, the data collected is used to enact reform at the local and national levels.

Minimal Time Commitment

o All volunteers must attend one training session, to be held in early September at the offices of one of the law firm partners in either Midtown or the Financial District.

o On Primary Day (September 14, 2010), both hotline volunteers and MLVs will be assigned to one shift of at least four hours (5:30AM-

9:30AM; 9:30AM-1:30PM; 1:30PM-5:30PM; 5:30PM-9:30PM).

Sign up with Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law to Help!

http://nyvol.866ourvote.org

What if I have more questions?

You can email YLAA contact Myrna Pérez at:  This email address is hidden from email harvesters via JavaScript or go to the website operated by Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law: www.866ourvote.org.  Persons who are not lawyers, paralegals, or law students are encouraged to contact Myrna for additional training.

Sign up today because the training begins next week!