How to vote? for victims of Sandy…

1-866-OUR-VOTE HOTLINE PROVIDES DIRECTION TO VOTERS IN WAKE OF STORM SANDY

MEDIA OUTLETS URGED TO AIR NEW PSA; NEW JERSEY VOTERS CAN VOTE EARLY

With many polling locations in New York and New Jersey closed due to power outages and storm damage, and many residents displaced, voting rights groups are urging voters to call 1-866-OUR-VOTE to find out where and when they can cast a ballot in the 2012 general election, and to remind New Jersey voters that they have the right to vote early.

The Election Protection Coalition, comprised of a number of voting rights groups including Common Cause and the Lawyers Committee on Civil Rights, is a non-partisan voter education effort. Its hotline, 866-OUR-VOTE, is staffed live now through poll closing nationwide on November 6. Call centers have been set up around the country and volunteers with legal training and up-to-date vote information — especially in the storm affected areas — are standing by to receive calls. Voters can call the hotline to find out where they can vote if they have been displaced or their polling place has been changed.

The groups are also asking media outlets to air a public service announcement to let voters know about the hotline.

The 30-second version of the PSA reads as follows:

BECAUSE OF THE WIDESPREAD DEVASTATION IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY BROUGHT BY HURRICANE SANDY, VOTERS ARE UNSURE AND CONFUSED ABOUT VOTING PROCEDURES. IF LISTENERS NEED FREE, NONPARTISAN ASSISTANCE ON HOW TO CAST A BALLOT IN THE MIDST OF THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE SANDY, CALL THE ELECTION PROTECTION HOTLINE ONE – EIGHT – SIX – SIX OUR VOTE … THAT’S ONE – EIGHT–SIX–SIX SIX-EIGHT- SEVEN- EIGHT- SIX EIGHT- THREE. VOLUNTEERS ARE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE VOTERS WITH ONE-ON-ONE ASSISTANCE AND WILL HELP ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS VOTERS HAVE ON NEW OR CHANGED VOTING PROCEDURES.

REMEMBER, ELECTION DAY IS THIS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6. CALL ONE – EIGHT – SIX – SIX – OUR VOTE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE ELECTION PROTECTION COALITION

Voters can also visit www.866OurVote.org