ACLU of Nevada and Voting Rights Organizations Launch Election Protection Program

LAS VEGAS—The ACLU of Nevada and its partners, Silver State Voices, Common Cause, and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, are launching a nonpartisan election protection program to safeguard the rights of Nevadans heading to the polls for the 2018 Midterm Election.

This program typically operates during Presidential election years, but the high interest in this year’s Midterm Elections have put the nonprofits on alert.

Volunteer attorneys and other watchdogs will be on the ground at polling sites statewide and monitoring phone lines at ACLU of Nevada offices to make sure every eligible voter can cast a ballot free from obstruction.

Voters are encouraged to be on the lookout for issues like long lines, voter intimidation, malfunctioning voting machines, unnecessary requests to see a voter’s ID, or any other activity that may impede or discourage the right to vote. Anyone can report incidents by calling the Election Protection Hotline, 866-OUR-VOTE or 888-VE-Y-VOTA (Spanish).

ACLU of Nevada Legal Director Amy Rose said:

“The right to participate in the political process through voting is foundational to our democracy. That’s why we’ll have attorneys and volunteers on the ground to protect Nevadans’ voting rights this year. We’re also encouraging everyone to call-in to the hotline 866-OUR-VOTE and report any problems they experience or witness at the polls. Even problems that seem relatively small can in turn into issues of voter suppression if they are not dealt with quickly.”

Silver State Voices Executive Director Emily Zamora said:

“This year, Nevada saw an unprecedented wave of newly registered voters. It is our objective to ensure that every Nevadan regardless of socioeconomic status, gender identity, race, religion, or sexual orientation is able to participate in their democracy by exercising their right to vote.”

Nevadans can call the Election Protection Hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE or 888-VE-Y-VOTA (Spanish).

Representatives are available in Reno and Las Vegas for interviews. Contact Wesley Juhl at 702-742-3016 to make interview arrangements or to find an election protection team in the field.