Register as an Election Protection volunteer today!

The Election Protection Program is the civil rights community's coordinated effort to address Election Day irregularities and voting rights violations that lead to disenfranchisement in minority communities. In anticipation of the 2004 Election cycle, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the People for the American Way Foundation, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation are leading the most ambitious contemporary voter protection program in the nation. In order for this effort to be successful, our organizations are working with a large group of coalition partners. The coalition has come together with one goal: to ensure that every eligible voter is able to cast a ballot that is accurately counted.

Voices of the Electorate
Know Your Rights/Election Protection
Election Protection is a non-partisan coalition of civil rights and civic organizations committed to protecting the right of all citizens to cast a ballot on Election Day. The coalition partners take a prospective approach to voter disenfranchisement by concentrating our efforts both on and before Election Day. In addition to providing immediate solutions for voters experiencing problems, the program accomplishes this goal by developing strategies to identify and respond to problems before Election Day through grassroots efforts, education and outreach to voters and election officials, and litigation. The program combines extensive, state specific legal research and resources with a coordinated grassroots field campaign. In addition, national media outlets, such as the Tom Joyner Morning Show, have endorsed the program and agreed to publicize the efforts of the coalition. The culmination of the coalition's activities is an Election Day hotline (1-866-OUR VOTE) that offers immediate, legal assistance to voters. In addition to drawing from our national Election Protection coalition partners for support and volunteers, the 2004 Election Protection Program has enlisted the support and help of an ever increasing list of strategic partners.

The Election Protection Program was created in the wake of the pervasive voting irregularities experienced disproportionately in minority communities during the 2000 Presidential Election cycle. Since that time, the Lawyers' Committee and People for the American Way Foundation and other coalition partners have conducted EP programs covering contests across the country.

In 2004, the Election Protection Program has joined forces with Unity '04, a national coalition of civil rights, labor and other activist organizations committed to encouraging civic participation and electoral mobilization in minority communities. Unity '04 will target states with a history of voting irregularities and disenfranchisement. For these states, the coalition will create field guides and legal materials as well as a Voters' Bill of Rights which provides voters and advocates with necessary information about state election law and voting rights. By far, the 2004 Election cycle is our most comprehensive undertaking yet. In order to successfully operate such an extensive program, the Lawyers' Committee will be coordinating Election Protection Attorney Networks in each of our targeted states, comprised of volunteer attorneys and law students. Likewise, our coalition partners are conducting extensive recruitment campaigns for volunteers, with and without legal experience, to serve a much needed role in the success of the program.

The Election Proctection Program is a non-partisan effort and is not affilated or working with any political candidate or party.

The EP program will only work with your help. Please click here to volunteer.