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Nation's Largest Nonpartisan Voter Protection Coalition Launches 2008 General Election Hotline in Advance of Historic Election

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Election Protection, the nation's largest nonpartisan voter protection coalition representing over 100 organizations and the full spectrum of American citizens, launched its 2008 general election hotline, 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683). This is a continuation of an expansive national effort to ensure that every eligible citizen who wishes to vote is properly registered and that all eligible votes are cast and counted in November.

In 2000, millions of Americans were denied their right to vote. The Election Protection coalition was formed in response. During the 2004 election cycle, Election Protection mobilized 25,000 trained volunteers, including 8,000 legal volunteers, to monitor polling places, educate voters, facilitate a dialogue with local and state officials, provide legal support to poll monitors, and answer the 1-866-OUR-VOTE voter services hotline. The hotline received over 200,000 calls from voters in all 50 states.

During the 2008 primaries, Election Protection found that many eligible voters across the country lost their right to vote because of inaccurate voter rolls, poorly trained poll workers and problems with voting machines.

The 1-866-OUR-VOTE Hotline, will be available now through Election Day, with thousands of trained Election Protection volunteers and legal experts providing direct assistance to voters. Election Protection helps voters understand voting rights, verify registration status, help ensure correct information about polling place or securing an absentee ballot, and that ballots are cast and counted on Election Day. Initial hours for live assistance are M-F 9am-5pm EDT.

"It is important that there are resources available to those who will encounter problems when they register or attempt to cast their ballot," said Barbara Arnwine, executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. "All those who wish to vote should be aware of their registration status and their rights at the polling place so they can cast a secure ballot and have it count. These are issues of both accountability and fairness," she said.

"With 1-866-OUR-VOTE, we're providing a much-needed resource," said Jonah Goldman, director of the National Campaign for Fair Elections at the Lawyers' Committee. "There is a growing concern that many election administrators won't have the resources or the systems to handle the record influx of new registrations and voters arriving at the polls on Election Day. Election Protection is equipped to help voters across the country, especially in places where significant problems have occurred with voter registration or with casting a ballot," he said.

Election Protection is the nation's largest nonpartisan voter protection coalition, led by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Through its 1-866-OUR-VOTE Hotline (1-866-687-8683) and dedicated team of legal experts and trained volunteers, Election Protection helps all American voters, including traditionally disenfranchised groups, gain access to the polls and overcome obstacles to voting, offering live assistance. The coalition has more than 100 partners at the national, state and local level, and is providing live voter protection services now through Election Day for all 50 states.

For more information about Election Protection and the 1-866-OUR-VOTE Hotline, please visit: www.866ourvote.org.

SOURCE Lawyers? Committee for Civil Rights Under Law