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Election protection work isn’t flashy — but it is essential
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On this eve of historic midterm elections, our democracy is on the line. The good news is that you can help ensure free and fair elections in Massachusetts — by training to serve as a nonpartisan election monitor.
For the past 25 years, a National Election Protection Coalition made up of more than 300 organizations has staffed voter protection hotlines and trained thousands of volunteer monitors. In Massachusetts, that work is carried out by a coalition of nonpartisan nonprofits, including my organization, the ACLU of Massachusetts.
Volunteering as a poll monitor is a powerful act of patriotism, and I always find my three-hour shift to be deeply rewarding. It’s an opportunity both to witness democracy in action and to actively help to strengthen that democracy.
Our coalition trained more than 125 volunteers to monitor polls in four cities during the Sept. 1 primary. We’re now working to mobilize a much bigger program for Nov. 3, covering more than 200 cities, including Boston and Cambridge.
At a time of rising distrust in our elections, I believe it’s important to explain how nonpartisan Election Protection works.
It isn’t flashy. It’s patient, low-key work, focused on ensuring that every eligible voter is able to cast a ballot.
Wearing bright yellow T-shirts, our nonpartisan monitors stand outside polling places to answer voters’ questions. We talk only about the process of voting and voting rights; our volunteers never discuss candidates or issues or ask people how they voted.
Among the common questions we field: Can I still vote if I’ve been placed on the “inactive” list? (Answer: Yes, if you present proof of residency—such as an ID or a utility bill with your address—and sign an affidavit affirming your eligibility.) People also ask where they can drop off a mail ballot, whether they can bring an aide into the voting booth, and what to do if they’ve moved since the last election.
Our trained monitors have many of these answers on hand and refer other questions to a legal hotline, which voters can also call themselves if they have questions (866-OUR-VOTE).
In addition to answering voters’ questions, our nonpartisan monitors observe the operation of the polling place. Most encounter no issues at all. That’s a good thing; it means that everything is working as it should!
Other volunteers have seen and reported a variety of issues: polling places that were locked past 7 a.m. on Election Day, with no signage to redirect puzzled voters; sites where the only access ramp for wheelchairs was blocked; sites that didn’t have enough staff, leading to long lines. In such cases, our monitors elevate the concerns to our Election Protection Command Center, which works with state and local elections officials to resolve them.
In some cases, our volunteers can address simple problems themselves. During the Sept. 1 primary, for instance, one of our poll monitors noticed the automatic door designated for wheelchair access didn’t work in her assigned polling place. She called in the problem and then stayed there to manually open the door for any voter who needed to enter, until the facilities team was able to fix it — all in the service of ensuring that every eligible voter had appropriate access to the polls.
In any election, some polling places may also have other observers on hand, including monitors from the Department of Justice and others sent by political parties. All must follow state and federal law: They can observe the voting process but cannot intimidate or otherwise interfere with voters.
Poll monitoring isn’t for everyone, of course. You must commit to a one-hour training and a three-hour shift and be able to travel to your assigned polling station. But you can pick the shift and the polling station. If you have the time and interest, I highly encourage it.
If you can’t serve as a monitor, please make the time to vote. And remember, if you have any questions or concerns at the polls, you can always call the national hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE.
Voting is one of our most precious rights. This Nov. 3, let’s all make clear how much we value it. Let’s vote like our democracy depends on it.
Carol Rose is the executive director of the ACLU of Massachusetts.
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