How to report possible voting issues at the polls on Election Day 2024
Less than 24 hours before this year's Election Day, more than 78 million ballots have already been cast, and on Nov. 5 millions more will cast their votes across the U.S.
The right to vote is protected at the federal level by the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits restricting a citizen's right to vote based on race or color as well as prohibiting state and local election laws from using voting practices that are intentionally discriminatory, as well as the Americans With Disabilities Act, which requires that all citizens have equal access to voting regardless of a disability.
While instances of voter fraud, voter suppression and voting device tampering are rare, they do constitute criminal acts. Here are ways that people can report possible irregularities or violations.
Reporting possible civil rights violations
Examples of civil rights violations during an election can include:
- Discrimination on the basis of race, color, or membership in a language minority group while voting or attempting to vote
- Voter registration issues
- Lack of accessibility while voting
- Absentee voting issues for uniformed services or overseas voters
Potential violations can be reported to the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division.
Reporting criminal civil rights violations
The use of violence or intimidation at polling locations is a crime and should be immediately reported, first to local law enforcement and then to the Department of Justice.
Complaints and reports should also be directed to the local U.S. Attorney's Office or FBI office.
Common questions for voting
What if the polling center is closing? If you are waiting in line to vote when a polling location closes, you are still entitled to fill out a ballot and vote.
Can I request a new ballot to change my vote? When voting in person, any voter can request a new ballot if they make a mistake filling it out. For absentee voters, rules for requesting a replacement ballot vary by state.
Can I register to vote on Election Day? Same-day voter registration varies from state to state. Certain states allow it at designated locations such as a county clerk's office, certain states only offer it for specific elections, and certain states do not offer it at all. State-specific voting information can be found at state elections sites.
Voters should also understand that certain voting practices, such as absentee voting or requiring personal identification at polling locations, can vary by state, and can be accessed at individual state government sites.
Max Hauptman is a Trending Reporter for Paste BN. He can be reached at MHauptman@gannett.com