AG James, PA Williams, Voting Rights Groups Launch Statewide Nonpartisan Election Protection Program

Ahead of early voting, 400+ New Yorkers have signed up for +1000 shifts to monitor polls

NEW YORK, NY (10/21/2020) (readMedia)-- On Thursday, two days before early voting begins in New York, Attorney General Letitia James, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Common Cause/NY and other voting rights groups will join together to kick off the 2020 statewide nonpartisan election protection program. Over 400 volunteers will serve as either virtual poll monitors or roving poll monitors to assist voters with urgent questions, protect voting rights, and make sure poll sites are taking adequate safety protections.

The effort is a redux of Common Cause/NY's 2016 Election Protection program. This year, because of COVID-19, additional volunteers will be digital, on bikes, or in cars. Digital poll monitors will be searching social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to assist voters in real time. Roving poll monitors will be assigned several poll locations to check-on during their shifts.

Early voting starts Saturday October 24, and runs until November 1st. Election Day is November 3rd. Voters can request their absentee ballot until October 27 and postmark it by November 3rd.

WHO:

Attorney General Letitia James

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams

Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause/NY

The Muslim Community Network

NYCLU

GenVote

LIST IN FORMATION

WHAT:

Kickoff press conference with AG James, PA Williams, voting rights groups to kickoff the 2020 statewide nonpartisan election protection program.

WHEN: Thursday October 22, 2020 at 10:00AM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
WHERE: In front of Barclays Center, by the subway station
620 Atlantic Ave
Brooklyn, New York 11225
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