"Election Protection group offers voters legal help
Published October 14, 2004
A coalition of organizations has announced plans for a statewide voter-protection program that includes legal advocacy at polling places and a new toll-free number to provide answers to questions about the voting process or to allow reporting of attempts to suppress voting.
The group, Election Protection Minnesota, will have attorneys, law students and citizen advocates at key precincts on Election Day across the state to monitor activities and provide assistance. The group also has a toll free number, 1-866-687-8683 (OUR-VOTE), to answer questions about voting and to monitor activities at the polls.
Pam Costain, the state coordinator, said the group has concerns about confusion about ID requirements, insufficient ballots owing to large voter turnout and insufficient understanding by election judges of the rights of the disabled, homeless, ex-felons and people who speak English as a second language.
The coalition includes ACLU of Minnesota, ACORN, the League of Women Voters of Minnesota, the Minneapolis Urban League, the Minnesota Disability Law Center and Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota."
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