Election Protection: Frequently Asked Questions About Volunteering
Quick Links — questions about:
- The Election Protection Volunteer drive
- Lawyer/law student volunteering
- Volunteer training
- Travel
- Volunteering with a friend
- Election Day volunteer experience
- Contacting volunteer coordinators
- Who can volunteer
- Location of volunteer opportunities
Questions about the Election Protection Volunteer drive
Who is sponsoring this volunteer drive?
Election Protection is a non partisan coalition led by People For the American Way Foundation along with other national partners that include the NAACP, The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Video the Vote, and countless others.Is this volunteer drive affiliated with the Democratic Party?
No. Our volunteer drive is completely nonpartisan. Election Protection and its affiliates and volunteers are working to protect all voters' rights, regardless of party affiliation.Is this volunteer drive nonpartisan?
Our volunteer drive is completely nonpartisan. Election Protection and its volunteers are working to protect all voters' rights, regardless of party affiliation.
Can I volunteer if I'm a Republican?
Yes, you can certainly volunteer if you belong to the Republican Party. Our volunteer drive is completely nonpartisan. Election Protection and its volunteers are working to protect all voters' rights, regardless of party affiliation.
Questions about lawyer/law student volunteering
What will I be doing as a lawyer?
We will be training legal volunteers to act as poll monitors in key precincts where there is a history of, or concern about, voting rights violations. Attorney poll monitors will attempt to resolve ballot access problems on site in real time. If immediate redress is not forthcoming, legal volunteers will alert the Election Protection coalition's Voters' Hotline, also staffed with volunteer lawyers, or contact other lawyers in the field to address the issue. As trouble spots become evident on Election Day, lawyers may be dispatched to precincts where multiple problems have been reported or to work on court and administrative actions, as needed.
What kind of training will lawyers get in advance?
Volunteer lawyers are urgently needed on election day. We will be training legal volunteers to act as poll monitors in key precincts where there is a history of, or concern about, voting rights violations, and other key legal functions. This training will provide an overview of state election law issues, review state specific legal manuals prepared for Election Day legal volunteers, provide instructions for reporting Election Day voting rights violations to the Election Protection coalition coordinated legal team, and more.
Volunteers must participate in an election eve training. You must attend a training session in order to receive a poll monitoring or other assignment. Training sessions will generally last two to three hours. A training coordinator will be available at election eve orientation sessions, where any last-minute questions will be answered. Also, please make sure you view our brief online video orientation [provide link, soon to come]. This orientation is a good introduction to Election Protection and will provide a general overview of the Election Protection volunteer program.
When you sign up as an interested volunteer please mark it you are a lawyer, law student or speak another language.
What will I be doing as a law student?
Volunteer law students are urgently needed on election day. We will be training law student volunteers to act as poll monitors in key precincts where there is a history of, or concern about, voting rights violations. Law student poll monitors will attempt to resolve ballot access problems on site in real time. If immediate redress is not forthcoming, law student volunteers will alert the Election Protection coalition's Voters' Hotline or contact lawyers in the field to address the issue. Law students will also be trained to answer the 866-OUR-VOTE EP coalition hotline.
Questions about volunteer training
What will I be trained to do and how will I be trained?
We will be training field volunteers to act as poll monitors in key precincts where there is a history of, or concern about, voting rights violations. This training will provide an overview of the state-specific Voters' Bill of Rights, answers to frequently asked questions about voting, information about e-voting issues where germane, instructions for reporting election day voting rights violations to the Election Protection coalition legal team, and more.
Volunteers must participate in an introductory training including an online video orientation [provide link to video] and an in-person training either the Sunday or Monday before election day. The training sessions will generally last one to two hours. We will not deploy election day volunteers who have not completed this in-person training.
When you sign up as an interested volunteer, you will be notified via e-mail about additional training dates and locations.
How should I prepare for the training?
You can prepare for the training by familiarizing yourself with the state election office Web site of the state where you will be volunteering.Is there a charge for the training?
All of the trainings are completely free of charge. Travel, lodging & meals items directly connected to your Election Protection volunteer work should be tax deductible as charitable contributions upon appropriate documentation. Please consult your tax advisor for details.
Do I need to attend a training before the election?
Yes, volunteers should plan to attend an in-person training either the Sunday or Monday evening before the election in the city where they will be stationed on election day. This mandatory election training is vitally important. Trainers will distribute the most up-to-date voting information and will answer any last-minute questions volunteers might have. Volunteers who cannot attend will receive training on election day as the trainers' time allows. We will not deploy election day volunteers who have not completed this in-person training.
How can I contact the trainer in my state/city?
In order to contact the trainer in your state or city, please contact People For the American Way Foundation at 800-326-7329 or email epvolunteer@pfaw.org
Questions about travel
Are my travel and lodging expenses tax-deductible?
Travel, lodging & meals directly connected to your Election Protection volunteer work should be tax deductible as charitable contributions upon appropriate documentation. Please consult your tax advisor for details.
Am I responsible for the cost of my travel and lodging while volunteering?
Yes. Volunteers traveling to our target cities are responsible for their own travel and lodging arrangements. Travel, lodging and meals directly connected to your Election Protection volunteer work should be tax deductible as charitable contributions upon appropriate documentation. Please consult your tax advisor for details.
Are there any travel packages available for volunteers?
No. We are not able to provide special arrangements or travel packages to volunteers who will be traveling to participate in our campaign.
Will transportation be provided to the polling place at which I'm volunteering?
You are responsible for getting to our local field office for your in-person training before the election and on Election Day. We will provide transportation from the field office to the polling place where you are assigned. For your convenience, you may wish to bring your own car or rent a car.
Questions about volunteering with a friend
How do I volunteer with a friend?
When you sign up to be an Election Protection volunteer, please check “I would like to volunteer in this county with friends or family members“, and then ask your family member or friend to register online and make sure they select the same county. Then, one of you should log into your profile and select the others to be a part of your group.Can my friend, who is not registered as a volunteer, attend the training?
Yes, we encourage you to bring along friends, family and colleagues who may also be interested in helping to protect voters' rights. They will be able to sign up as a volunteer at the end of the training.
Questions about Election Day volunteer experience
Do I need to spend the whole day at the polls?
Election Protection poll monitors will be deployed in shifts throughout election day. Volunteers are urged to work more than one shift if availability permits. You'll receive information about election day volunteer schedules at your training.
How safe will I be as a poll monitor?
Your presence as a poll monitor will serve to deter people from voter intimidation and harassment that they may otherwise attempt if there were nobody watching. Across the country, local residents have welcomed volunteers like you, recognizing that you are donating your time and energy for their benefit and the benefit of all Americans.
Questions about contacting volunteer coordinators
If my availability changes (when and/or where I can volunteer) how can I let the coalition know?
If your availability changes please e-mail epvolunteer@pfaw.org as soon as possible or call the People For the American Way Foundation 800-326-7329.
Questions about who can volunteer
Is there a minimum age requirement for volunteers?
The Election Protection coalition welcomes help from those of high-school age, as long as they are accompanied by a guardian and can safely and responsibly handle the volunteer duties assigned to them. We don't recommend that you bring children younger than 14 with you on election day. For volunteers who do want to bring children with them, we suggest that you buddy up with a friend or partner who will also volunteer and share in the child care responsibilities.Can I bring my children with me to volunteer on election day?
The Election Protection coalition welcomes help from those of high-school age, as long as they are accompanied by a guardian and can safely and responsibly handle the volunteer duties assigned to them. We don't recommend that you bring children younger than 14 with you on election day. For volunteers who do want to bring children with them, we suggest that you buddy up with a friend or partner who will also volunteer and share in the child care responsibilities.
Do I need to be a registered voter and/or citizen to volunteer?
You do not need to be a citizen or a registered voter to volunteer. But we do strongly encourage you to register and vote if you are eligible.
Questions about location of volunteer opportunities
Why can't I volunteer in my state? Why can't I volunteer in my city?
While every voter's rights are important, and election protection issues could arise anywhere, the Election Protection coalition has examined the history of voters' rights violations across the U.S. and made note of past, present and anticipated problems. The Election Protection coalition has designated certain states, where voters in minority communities were disproportionately disenfranchised in the past, to be at particularly high risk: Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Within these states, we have chosen the most at-risk districts in order to optimize our volunteers' abilities to make a difference on election day.
In which cities can I volunteer?
The Election Protection coalition has designated certain states, where voters were disproportionately disenfranchised in the past, to be at a particularly high risk. Within our target states, we have chosen the most at-risk districts in order optimize our volunteers' abilities to make a difference on Election Day.
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