Now we have to keep an eye on our own election officials
Aug 2, 2018, 6:19 AM
(AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)
(AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)
We’re all on the alert for Russians hacking into voter databases, but the other problem is our own election officials. In their zeal to clean up the voter rolls, these officials go too far.
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“Election officials remove people without the legal protections required, including those required by federal law,” said Jonathan Brater with the Brennan Center for Justice.
Of course, the voter lists have to be cleaned up to account for people who move or commit a felony. But before you can strike a name from the voter rolls, you’re supposed to send out a notice, and then wait until the person misses two elections. Some states haven’t bothered to do that.
So then I asked Brater how many qualified voters are actually being turned away? He says no one knows.
“One reason is that a lot of people who show up to the polls and aren’t on the list, even if they should be, just leave.”
That’s ridiculous. There ought to at least be a number to call if you’re denied your right to vote. It turns out there is — 866-OURVOTE.
“That is an organization called election protection which we are a member of. They know the rules in your state and they can help you have the best chance to get your vote counted. But there’s way, way more stuff happening than we ever find out about.”
Don’t let the Russians – or anyone else – take away your rights.
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