October 31, 2006

NOTICE OF PRESS CONFERENCE

November 2, NOON

North side of State House (in case of rain, downstairs lobby)

Re: Election Protection Hot-line

Contact: Becci Robbins, 803-808-3384 < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it > \n This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >

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Election Protection Coalition announces 866-OUR-VOTE Hotline

On November 7, South Carolinians encountering voting problems can call a toll-free hotline for help, thanks to a service provided by the SC Election Protection Coalition, a nonpartisan collaboration that includes the SC Progressive Network, the SC League of Women Voters, the SC Voter Education Project and the SC NAACP. On November 2, representatives from the coalition member groups will host a press conference to announce how the hotline can solve election day problems and help improve our election system. The SC hotline works in conjunction with a national effort organized by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, founded by President John Kennedy in 1963 to insure equal access to the ballot box for all Americans.

"If a voter believes they are being kept from casting a legitimate ballot, they can call 866-OUR-VOTE and talk to someone trained in South Carolina election laws," said Rev. Bennie Colclough, Progressive Network co-chair. "If the problem can't be resolved with a phone call, the coalition has volunteer lawyers standing by to intervene."

Calls that need legal attention will be routed to the SC Legal Command Center in Columbia, where pro bono attorneys at the law firm of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP, will be standing by to respond to questions and concerns received through the hotline from voters and poll workers.

In 2004, the coalition offered the same South Carolina hotline, which took over 400 calls from citizens across the state. "While most of the calls reflected confused voters, a handful required sending someone to a problem precinct," said Brett Bursey, Progressive Network director. The coalition used the data collected through the hotline to shape legislative proposals designed to make voting easier and more accessible. The Help SC Vote Campaign will re-introduce legislation next session to address on going voting problems.

"Examples of past problems, and proposed solutions are black students being turned away from polls because their drivers license didn't reflect their school addresses," Bursey said. "We promoted legislation that student picture ID's be acceptable voting identification. The long lines at many polling places could be greatly reduced by counties setting up Early Voting Centers, where citizens could vote for a week prior to elections without an excuse (current law requires you have one of seventeen reasons to vote early)."

The Coalition encourages citizens to call the hotline to report malfunctioning voting machines, long waits, ID conflicts or other problems at the polls. To get Hotline posters for your precinct, go to www.scpronet.com.