Coalition Of Groups To Offer Voter Assistance

The New York Civil Liberties Union joined a coalition of civic groups that today announced initiatives to inform New Yorkers of their voting rights. The groups—including the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), Common Cause/NY, and Just Democracy have set up a helpline for voters and it will be staffed for 12 hours on Election Day. The coalition, assisted by volunteers, also plans to monitor conditions at the polls on Election Day.

“There’s been a lot of attention focused on the problems voters may face in other states, but we have our fair share of problems right here in New York,” said Donna Lieberman of Executive Director of the NYCLU. “We’re committed to making sure that this fundamental right isn’t abused and the NYCLU has posted a voter empowerment guide on its Web site,” she added (www.nyclu.org/vote_2004.html).

Volunteers will be monitoring conditions at poll sites across the city and surveying voters on whether they experienced problems when voting. The groups expect to have monitors at 150 sites across the five boroughs, more than ten percent of the total number in the city.

“New York shouldn’t be the next Florida,” said Neal Rosenstein, coordinator of the New York Public Interest Research Group’s Democracy Project. “If a there are problems at the polls we want to know about it and will try and make sure they stop.” he added.

“If a voter has a problem at the polls, we want to hear about it,” said Megan Quattlebaum of Common Cause/NY. “Our helpline can inform voters of their rights, take complaints and assist voters with basic information about the election,” she added.

The helpline number will be operating from 7am to 7pm on Election Day at: (212) 822-0282. New Yorkers interested in becoming trained as surveyors can sign up online at www.nypirg.org. For your New York City voting information you can call 866-868-3692.