The New York Civil Liberties Union and Common Cause/NY today announced joint measures to protect New Yorkers’ voting rights in polling districts in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Poughkeepsie, Albany and Long Island.

The NYCLU and Common Cause/NY have learned that True the Vote, a Houston-based organization with a history of using voter intimidation tactics in minority and low-income voting precincts, is recruiting and training poll watchers to challenge voters on Election Day at polling places in where U.S. Congressional races are tight.

“We are committed to helping all New Yorkers stand up to bullies at the ballot box,” said NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman. “Unfortunately, there are groups out there willing and able to use deceptive and intimidating tactics to deprive people of their right to vote. We will provide New Yorkers the support and information they need to cast their ballots on Election Day.”

“All eligible residents should be free to vote with confidence, without fear of intimidation or unjust repercussions,” said Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause/NY. “It is critical to the American political process and to the integrity of our democracy, and we cannot tolerate anything less.”

To counter any voter intimidation, the NYCLU and Common Cause/NY will staff teams of volunteers to inform voters of their rights, and collect information about voter intimidation at polling places in the targeted areas.

Anyone who experiences problems at the polls speak with one of our on-site volunteers, or call the national voter protection hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE (or 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA in Spanish) to be linked with an attorney who can help them navigate a solution.

In September, Common Cause and Demos, a non-partisan public policy research and advocacy organization, released Bullies at the Ballot Box: Protecting the Freedom to Vote Against Wrongful Challenges and Intimidation, a report documenting voter intimidation efforts by True the Vote and other Tea Party-affiliated groups in 10 states across the country. Read the report here.