SC Prog Blog

866-OUR-VOTE Hotline Set Up in South Carolina

The SC Progressive Network is once again organizing nonpartisan election protection work to ensure that all eligible voters’ ballots count in the upcoming election. In the past two general elections, we responded to calls to the 866-OUR-VOTE toll-free hotline set up for voters to call if they had problems at the polls. The hotline received over 500 calls.

While most of the calls were from confused voters, some reported incidents of voter intimidation and efforts at vote suppression. Some calls were referred to SLED or the Justice Department. We were able to deal with most problems by having a volunteer call the voter. With the assistance of volunteer attorneys and informed volunteers, we were able to dispatch someone directly to most of the problem precincts.

We are assembling a directory of attorneys and informed volunteers willing to respond to calls for help in their county on Election Day. While most problems can be resolved by telephone, some require going to the problem precinct.

We need help on Nov. 4 and in the days leading up to the election. Election Protection Volunteers (not necessarily attorneys) are needed to deliver signs to the county election boards for placement in the precincts, to monitor the operation of the voting computers and to report problems at the precincts. A South Carolina Legal Manual prepared by the Election Protection Coalition is available to volunteers that answers a wide range of election-related questions.

This is a nonpartisan effort. Participants can neither support or oppose candidates, and must offer assistance regardless of voters’ party affiliation.

To volunteer, please contact Brett Bursey at 803-808-3384 or network@scpronet.com. We will need your contact information, your hours of availability and services you are offering. Your information will be shared only with coordinators of the Election Protection coalition. There will be a volunteer training by conference call.

For details on the Election Protection coalition click here.

INSTITUTE INDEX
Disenfranchised by design

Estimated number of Americans who have currently or permanently lost their voting rights because of a felony conviction: 5.3 million

Of those, number that are ex-offenders who have completed their sentences: 2.1 million

Number of black men who are disenfranchised as a result of a felony conviction: 1.4 million

Percentage of black men that represents: 13

Number of times by which black men’s disenfranchisement rate exceeds the national average: 7

In states that disenfranchise ex-offenders, percent of black men who may permanently lose their right to vote: 40 

Number of states that permit even inmates to vote: 2*

Number of states that deny voting rights to all convicted felons for life: 2**

Number of Virginians permanently disenfranchised as of 2004 due to felony convictions: 377,000

Of those disenfranchised Virginians, percent who are black: 55

Number of nonviolent felons who’ve had their voting rights restored by Virginia’s two recent Democratic governors: 5,990

Number of Alabama inmates who filled out voter registration forms over the course of two days last month before the effort was halted by the Republican prison commissioner: 80
 
Percent of South Carolina elections officials who answered incorrectly when surveyed last month about ex-felons’ voting rights: 48

Estimated number of ex-felons who were unable to vote in Florida during the 2004 election: 960,000

George Bush’s winning margin over John Kerry in Florida that year: 380,978

* Maine and Vermont

** Kentucky and Virginia
 
All sources on file with the Institute for Southern Studies. For more information, e-mail sue@southernstudies.org.