A sign directs early voters at East Providence City Hall. (Nancy Lavin/Rhode Island Current)
With a week to go to Election Day, Common Cause Rhode Island is seeking volunteers to assist voters if they need help at the polls.
The nonpartisan voting rights group will train “election protection volunteers” who will submit reports from each voting precinct they visit, documenting voter experience including wait times, tech problems, language and disability access, and compliance with state and federal laws.
“With voter enthusiasm sky high, we want to make sure all voters know their rights and can cast a ballot freely on Election Day,” Executive Director John Marion said in a statement. “Still too many voters face challenges — from language access to finding their correct polling location.”
Those interested in volunteering can register through Common Cause’s website.
Common Cause during the Sept. 10 primary sent 25 volunteers across Rhode Island to assess the compliance of polling places with the American with Disabilities Act, along with the city of Pawtucket’s compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act.
With millions now casting ballots, democracy watchdogs stress voter protection
Federal officials in May reached a consent agreement with the city to resolve allegations that election officials failed to provide access to provisional ballots for Spanish-speaking voters — which the Pawtucket officials have disputed.
Common Cause volunteers reportedly found six of the city’s 28 precincts were missing Spanish-language signs that either included what Voter ID is needed, the right to cast a provisional ballot, basic voting rules and other requirements, or the availability of a bilingual voter hotline.
Under the Voting Rights Act, bilingual ballots are required in any voting jurisdiction where residents with limited English proficiency account for more than 5% of the voting population.
Issues were reported to city officials and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) by Common Cause, which requested the DOJ to send federal observers to all Pawtucket precincts during the Nov. 5 general election.
During a visit to Providence in early October, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department plans to announce other election monitoring efforts ahead of Election Day.
Voters who run into issues on Election Day are advised to call their local board of canvassers or the Election Protection hotline 866-YOUR-VOTE.
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