campaign

Protect the Vote

Values
Community

As the Central Labor Council for the Los Angeles County, we pledge to protect democracy by protecting the votes of EVERY American at our community polling sites by staying resolute in our defense of democracy. Please see the following for all of the way you can join us in defending our demomcracy:

DO use the SALUTE (Size, Action, Location, Uniform, Time, Equipment) method to document encounters with agitators or law enforcement.

DO use 1-866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) to speak with a trained Election Protection volunteer if you have questions, experience problems casting your ballot, or see voter intimidation happening.

DO NOT harass, intimidate or ask voters personal questions. Voter intimidation can include arguments, attempts at coercion, or attempts to influence on top of aggressive behavior.

DO NOT campaign closer than 100 feet from the entrance of a polling location or vote center. This includes campaigning for a candidate or ballot initiative.

DO NOT physically engage with agitators (hit, shove, push, for example).

A strong response should treat this problem as an urgent voter-service issue and a possible equity/legal issue:

Verify voters’ status immediately
Help people use available remedies
Document patterns
Communicate without making existing rumors worse
Launch a verification drive to reach people who think the problem affects someone else
Counter misinformation to prevent panic and apathy
Prepare legal, media and mobilization escalation so you have options if the concerns grow

In Los Angeles County, eligible voters can use Condition Voter Registration at any Vote Center during the 11 day voting period if they need to register or re-register.

A strong response is to protect voters’ access to the polling place without confronting the group yourself:

Notify the polling site lead and local election office immediately
Ask election officials– not volunteers– to determine whether the people are authorized observers and what site specific restrictions apply
Document the conduct from a safe distance
Report any threat or obstruction to emergency services
Support voters in line– tell them you’ll stay with them so they can vote
Share vetted information about polling locations with your members

In California, official guidance identifies filming voters entering or leaving a polling place and obstructing access as forms of potentially intimidating conduct.