How to Help People Vote in the 2022 Midterm Elections — ProPublica
In response to ProPublica’s coverage of electoral roadblocks, readers have come forward asking how they can help.
Our reporters found that voting for the 48 million Americans who have dyslexia is in many ways a modern literacy test. Voters are finding their way through confusing ballots and registration processes, as well as attempts by some states to make voting more difficult, for example by limiting the assistance people can receive. Misinformation and false claims of voter fraud have exacerbated the problem.
“We’ve seen voters who need language assistance or who are disabled and need assistance being challenged with the assumption that they are not eligible and consequently their votes are not legitimate,” said Marcia Johnson-Blanco, co-director of das Voting rights project of the Attorneys Committee on Civil Rights Under the Act.
It is not necessary for people to be able to read or speak English in order to vote. The Electoral Rights Act makes it clear that people with disabilities and those who cannot read or write are entitled to assistance in voting.
Here are some ways you can help spread factual information about voting rights and resources ahead of the midterms.
Remember, Election Day is November 8, and deadlines for voter registration and mail-in ballot applications are fast approaching in some states. Be sure to check the deadlines and procedures for your state.
Make sure your neighbors are aware of their rights and resources
We’ve created an easy-to-follow voting guide that you can share with anyone who might find it useful. It is available in multiple languages: English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Arabic, Korean, Urdu, Hindi and Bengali. (You can also check which languages are commonly spoken by citizens of voting age in your area.)
A printable version is available on our website if you would like to distribute copies in your community. You can also request physical copies using the form below.
Our guide includes voter hotline numbers in multiple languages. People can call for help verifying their registration, locating a polling location, or information about state requirements. The hotlines are also available if voters need information on language assistance or encounter problems.
These hotlines are operated by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law in cooperation with the NALEO Educational Fund, APIAVote and the Arab American Institute. All are impartial, which means they try to provide voters with information about their rights, rather than trying to get them to vote a certain way.
How to reach the hotlines:
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English speakers can call or text 866-687-8683.
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Spanish speakers can call 888-839-8682 or GOVOTE to 97779.
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Bangla, Cantonese, Hindi, Urdu, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog or Vietnamese speakers can call 888-274-8683.
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Arabic speakers can call 844-925-5287.
You can help people navigate the voting process
Elections can be difficult to navigate as there are different processes depending on where you live. Fortunately, there are resources like this federal government-run website that list official sources of information on voting by state.
Vote.org, another nonpartisan organization, has simple tools you can use to help someone check their registration status and register to vote. They also have a tool that voters can use to apply for absentee ballots, find their polling location, and check if they need to bring ID.
If you know people who could benefit from early voting or voting by mail (also known as absentee voting), make sure they understand the process in their area and the deadline for requesting absentee ballots. If you want to help someone request or cast a ballot-by-mail, check your state’s specific laws, as some places have strict rules on who can help.
You can help your family, friends and neighbors vote
People who cannot read or write English or people with disabilities can choose someone to help them vote, as long as it is not a representative of their employer or union.
If you’re helping someone vote in person, let a poll worker know when you register. He may have the person you are helping sign a form acknowledging that he needs assistance. Polling stations must also have accessible machines for people with disabilities. And some jurisdictions are required to provide election materials in the languages commonly spoken in the region.
If you’re helping someone vote, remember: you can read or translate the ballot. However, you are not allowed to tell them who to vote for or look at the ballot unless directed to do so.
Some states have tried to make it harder for people to help voters in recent years. For example, Texas banned voter assistants from answering their questions, but that ban was later overturned by a federal judge. If you are unsure about the laws in your state, you can ask your local electoral authorities or call the Election Protection hotlines.
Tell journalists what you see
Our reporters want to know if you or someone you know is having accessibility issues when voting or if the right to voter assistance is being challenged. We will use this information to inform our future reporting, although we will contact you before sharing details of your experience with you.
You can message ProPublica at 212-379-5781, email [email protected], or fill out an online typing form.
You can volunteer or become a poll worker
Some jurisdictions are still recruiting poll workers. Visit the US Election Assistance Commission website for more information.
The non-partisan election protection hotlines are staffed by volunteers and will be staffed until election day. Some are still looking for volunteers. You can sign up for shift hotlines in the following languages: English, Tagalog, Mandarin, Cantonese, Bangla, Hindi or Urdu, Korean, and Vietnamese. You don’t need to have any legal experience to enroll, and training is available.
ProPublica hosted a virtual panel on literacy with election accessibility advocates. Based on questions submitted by readers, we asked panelists what advice they had for people who would like to help.
Faye Combs, a California literacy and suffrage advocate who learned to read as an adult, recommended getting involved in literacy programs through public libraries. She also stressed the need to focus on accessibility for voters with disabilities.
Olivia Coley-Pearson, a city commissioner in Douglas, Georgia who was charged with helping people vote, said people should familiarize themselves with the laws in their state. She recommended letting neighbors know if you can offer rides or other assistance. She also stressed the need for compassion, as reading difficulties can be stigmatized.
“Let her know you care and it’s okay. Mostly that it’s okay to temper that level of shame or embarrassment,” said Coley-Pearson.
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