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A.G. Schneiderman announces Election Day hotline to help ensure access for voters across New York

by jmaloni

Submitted

Mon, Nov 4th 2013 07:00 am

As part of ongoing enforcement efforts, attorney general will operate hotline to address language access, polling place barriers and other civil rights problems on Election Day

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced an Election Day hotline to help ensure that all eligible voters are able to cast an effective ballot in the Nov. 5 general election. The A.G. urges voters to call the office's hotline at 800-771-7755 or email [email protected] at any time between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Election Day to report issues or problems at the polls.

"My office is committed to full enforcement of the Voting Rights Act and other federal and state laws that require equal access to the ballot box," Schneiderman said. "Our Election Day hotline will help ensure that all eligible voters across our state are able to exercise their constitutionally protected right to vote on Election Day." 

Since launching the hotline last year, Schneiderman's civil rights bureau has fielded hundreds of complaints from voters and worked with local election officials and others to troubleshoot and resolve many issues faced by voters at the polls. This year's monitoring efforts come on the heels of recent agreements secured by the A.G.'s office with Schenectady, Sullivan, Ulster, Rockland, Dutchess, Putnam and Chautauqua counties pursuant to Section 4(e) of the Voting Rights Act, which requires certain Spanish-speaking voters be provided with bilingual ballots, bilingual election-related materials and language assistance at the polls. In addition, the A.G.'s office will be focused on barriers impacting voters with disabilities and other issues faced by minority voters. 

The office will receive and respond to election-related complaints relating to any of the statutes the office enforces. Attorneys within the office's civil rights bureau will work with election officials across the state to respond to and address problems as they arise. The Election Day hotline is part of Schneiderman's ongoing statewide initiative to ensure these and other voters have equal access to the political process and do not encounter language barriers on Election Day.

To report a complaint about discriminatory voting practices on Election Day, call the office of the attorney general's hotline at 800-771-7755 or email [email protected] at any time between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.

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