Currently not accepting new volunteers.
Florida Election Protection Coalition

Voting Rights Legal Monitor - November 5th

Rapid response to voting rights issues, conduct accessibility reviews of poll sites.

Posted April 2, 2024

Background & Context

Common Cause Florida, Disability Rights Florida, and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law are working together to implement the Voting Rights Legal Monitor program for the 2024 elections in Florida.

We are seeking attorneys to serve as legal monitors on the ground, in person in counties across the state of Florida, including but not limited to: Broward, Miami-Dade, Collier, Palm Beach, Martin, Indian, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Polk, Manatee, Osceola, Brevard, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Orange, Volusia, Lake, Seminole, Marion, Alachua, Duval, Nassau, Leon, Bay, and Escambia.

Immediate Problem

This election year, voters will face obstacles that have no place in a modern democracy. We need lawyers like you to quickly synthesize complex rules and regulations, persuasively communicate to officials, and use critical thinking skills to support on-the-ground response.

When not dealing with voting rights issues, you will conduct accessibility reviews of polling sites in your self-selected county. These reviews support Disability Rights Florida's efforts to promote and increase barrier-free voting access for individuals with disabilities in the state, and it would take several years to complete these reviews without your efforts.

Work & Deliverables

We need you to (1) rapidly respond to voting rights issues at in person at polling locations in one Florida county and take testimonies from affected voters as necessary, and (2) complete poll site accessibility reviews for Disability Rights Florida.

To complete this work, you need access to a vehicle on Tuesday, November 5th, as you'll be driving to the polling locations, and a smartphone with a car charger. We will provide training and tools.

A full-day shift is from 6:30 AM - 7:30 PM, but you do not need to volunteer for 13 hours. Please aim to volunteer for eight hours, giving preference to the evening voting period (4:30-7:30 PM) and the morning poll opening timeframe (6:30-9:30 AM).

This is a Florida-based, in-person volunteer opportunity.

Project Plan

Preparation Phase

  • Intro call with project coordinator
  • Acknowledge nonpartisan agreement and waiver
  • Sign up for poll monitor and declarations online training
  • Attend poll monitor and declarations training via Zoom and take quiz
  • Watch training on how to take accessibility reviews and use tool and take quiz
  • Review assigned turf
  • Join Legal Monitor WhatsApp group
  • Print/receive materials

Collaboration Phase

  • Conduct disability poll site assessment for each location and submit report
  • Rapid response to voting rights issues as needed, under direction of Florida FLEPC Command Center
  • Monitor for voting rights issues at each location
  • On Tuesday November 5th, 2024 visit polling locations in assigned turf

Wrap Up

  • Ensure all reports submitted
  • Take volunteer feedback survey
Currently not accepting new volunteers.

Additional Information

  • Time Commitment: 11-20 hours
  • Training Provided: Yes
  • Additional Training Details: You will receive training on nonpartisan poll monitoring, how to assess polling locations for accessibility, legal observing, and how to take declarations from voters.
  • Site-Preference: On-Site
  • Open to Law Students: No
  • Bar License(s) required: Any Bar License
  • Required Languages: None
  • Preferred Languages: Haitian Creole, Spanish
  • Required Legal Expertise: None
  • Preferred Legal Expertise: Civil Rights, Criminal Law, Disability Rights, Voting Rights
  • Signup Deadline: November 9, 2024
  • Deliverables Due: November 5, 2024
  • Mentoring Provided: No
  • Supervision Provided: Yes

Locations

  • Multiple
Florida Election Protection Coalition

Election Protection/866-Our-Vote is the largest nonpartisan voter protection program in the country. The coalition works to ensure all voters can cast a ballot freely, fairly, and securely. We empower and support voters and communities who have been historically disenfranchised and underrepresented in our democracy. Our core work includes direct voter assistance and education, advocacy, litigation, and communication with elected officials.

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