‘My Vote, My Right’ Ready to Protect Voters on Election Day

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/11/03/my-vote-my-right-ready-to-protect-voters-on-election-day/

by James Parks, Nov 3, 2008

On the eve of the most important vote of a lifetime for American workers, volunteers for the AFL-CIO-led My Vote, My Right program are in place, ready to help ensure that all eligible voters can cast a ballot and that their votes are counted.

Hundreds of volunteer union members will monitor polls, and volunteer lawyers will field calls and complaints from voters who believe their right to vote has been denied.



Speaking to the Gannett News Service, Ohio AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Petee Talley, who is coordinating the voter-protection program in the Buckeye State, says polling monitors are needed as much now as they were in 2004 and 2006.

The secretary of state has given clear directives and advisories, but the election is still administered at the local level. I think we’ll be OK. But just in case…we’re not backing down. We’ll be there all day.

With record numbers of people expected at the polls tomorrow, there is a real possibility of snafus and attempts at outright voter suppression. Progressive organizations are mobilized as never before to protect votes. The My Vote, My Right coalition will be on the scene to address voting rights issues in 27 communities in nine key states—Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin

Says AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker:

This is a critical election for working families, so we must ensure that citizens know their voting rights and are prepared to do whatever it takes on Election Day to have their votes counted.

The AFL-CIO and its affiliate unions distributed more than 600,000 Voter Bill of Rights fliers, including more than 100,000 each in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Missouri. We also are running radio ads in 11 states and the District of Columbia urging voters to make sure their right to vote is protected. AFL-CIO voter protection activists are referring voters to the toll-free hotline operated by the election protection coalition, 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683), to report problems.

FULL story at link.