National Non-Partisan Election Protection Expresses Deep Regrets Over Maricopa County Board of Supervisor’s Refusal to Extend Voting Hours
Laura Grace, Election Protection Manager for the Voting Rights Project of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, issued the following statement today concerning the inability of Maricopa County to have 62 polling places fully operational at the start of today’s Primary Day elections.
“Election Protection is extremely disappointed in the Maricopa County Board of Supervisor’s decision not to extend voting hours for polling stations that opened hours late due to equipment problems this morning. Our Election Protection hotlines received calls and saw reports from many impacted voters who faced significant challenges to casting their ballot today. Some waited in long lines, some had to travel farther away to vote at a bonus voting center, some were told to vote provisionally at a nearby polling station, and some went home without voting.
““It is deeply regrettable that the Board of Supervisors did not offer a reasonable solution to voters affected by this serious mishap. Instead, the county left the burden on voters to spend hours trying to cast a ballot, cast provisional ballots, or travel far from their homes to vote at bonus vote centers. Unfortunately, as a result, countless voters may have lost their opportunity to cast their ballot today. We urge Maricopa County to thoroughly investigate this problem and take all necessary steps to prevent these types of issues from keeping voters from the polls in November.
“The Election Protection hotlines will remain open to take voters’ calls until the officlal close of polling hours. We encourage voters to call us at 1-866-OUR-VOTE, where trained volunteers stand ready to help answer questions and to report stories of today’s experiences voting.”
Election Protection works year-round, to help all American voters through field monitors, voter education and an expansive network of national partners and state advocates to respond to voters’ questions and concerns. The 866-OUR-VOTE hotline will be live starting on National Voter Registration Day on September 25, until the November 6 Midterm Election.
For more information, please contact: Sue Dorfman, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law at sdorfman@lawyerscommittee.org or (202) 662-8327.
