(cross-posted from Daily Kos)

I’ve updated the dKosopedia List of election integrity hotlines and addresses to help us get an overview of the different election protection hotlines that are active throughout the country. I tried to develop as comprehensive a list as I could, including short descriptions of the hotlines.
It was my original intention to test out these numbers by calling each one and seeing what kind of response I got:

  • Was I connected to a live operator or voicemail?
  • If connected to an operator, was he or she knowledgeable?
  • If connected to voicemail, did I receive a callback?
  • If I was forwarded to a different number, was the operator at that number prepared to handle me?

Several months ago, I tested out 1-866-OUR-VOTE, where I was connected to voicemail, but did received callbacks (though unfortunately while I was at work). I also tested out 1-888-DEM-VOTE, the hotline run by the Democratic Party, where I was forwarded to my state Democratic party. The operator was okay at handling the call, but was not expecting it and could only point me to the Secretary of State’s office. Due to a lack of time, I was unable to perform more tests. But I have been told by Susan Adelman of the Women Donors Network (whose group put out a wonderful ad, which I described in a diary last week) that several people from her organization have tested the 1-866-OUR-VOTE hotline recently and found it well-staffed with responsive and knowledgeable operators who connected them quickly with good contacts.

Those of you who have been making calls for MoveOn have probably heard of the 1-866-MY-VOTE-1 number. This is not a live-staffed hotline, but rather gives callers the opportunity to:

  • hear recorded information regarding their polling place (keyed by geographical location)
  • record a description of a voting irregularity complaint
  • be forwarded to a local elections board

I discovered this evening that there are at least two unions running election protection hotlines: the SEIU and the Teamsters.

And then, of course, there are governmental offices. I’ve made no attempt to list all of them on the dKosopedia page, but  problems should be reported to the local elections board as well as to the secretary of state, in addition to 1-866-OUR-VOTE and other nongovernmental hotlines.

Please make sure that everyone you know has memorized the 1-866-OUR-VOTE hotline number and knows where to find other numbers. Your one-stop site, once again: List of election integrity hotlines and addresses.

Thanks!

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