Voter Empowerment Cards Answering Common Questions Also Available

Richmond, VA –  The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia will answer questions from voters who encounter problems at the polls on Election Day and is prepared to advocate on behalf of voters whose rights have been abridged.
The ACLU hotline number is (804) 644-8080.  Emails sent to acluva@acluva.org will also be answered.
“Casting a ballot shouldn’t be a complicated process,” said ACLU of Virginia Executive Director Kent Willis, “but there are always glitches on Election Day.  Most stem from a combination of voters not knowing their rights and poll workers not being as forthcoming or informed as they should be about election law.”
“Our main advice to voters this year is to check their registration status and polling place in advance of Election Day,” said Willis.  “Decennial redistricting has put as many as one-third of Virginia’s voters in different legislative districts.  While the State Board of Elections has been sending out new voter registration cards, there is likely to still be some confusion, so we are encouraging voters to double check their voter information.”
Advice the ACLU will be giving to voters is likely to include what to do if:

-- they have lost or do not have identification with them -- they are told they are not on the registration rolls after arriving at the polls -- they make a mistake while completing their ballot -- their vote is challenged by someone else -- they cannot physically access the polling place -- they are told they cannot vote because they are wearing political attire

Voter Empowerment Cards
For the last dozen years, the ACLU of Virginia and the Virginia NAACP have jointly produced and disseminated thousands of pocket-sized cards describing voters’ rights, and each organization operates an Election Day hotline.  The Voters’ Rights Cards, available in English and Spanish, may be viewed or downloaded at http://acluva.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Cards2011engspan.pdf, or picked up at the ACLU office in Richmond.
Media Interviews on Voters’ Rights
ACLU representatives are available for media interviews before and on Election Day to discuss polling procedures and voters’ rights.

Contact: Kent Willis, Executive Director, 804-644-8022