This project is complete!

This project has been completed thanks to the efforts of our volunteers.

Visit the Project Directory to check out other projects that still need your help!

completed
Voter Protection Corps Education & Advocacy Fund

Help Texas voters at the polls during the 2020 general election

More people will be voting in person in Texas than anywhere else in the country. You can make a major difference to voters by working at one of your Texas county's polls.

Posted September 18, 2020

Background & Context

Not enough poll workers = long lines and poll closures. Which would lead to Texas voters being disenfranchised this year.

As a poll worker, you will be on the front lines of voting, and you can ensure that everyone who comes to vote is treated fairly and kindly, and that each person entitled to vote a ballot that day ends up doing so.

Although poll workers do not need to be lawyers, lawyers often bring skills and knowledge that can make them particularly effective. For example, they pay close attention during training, which means they will know the rules and apply them conscientiously.

AS A RESIDENT OF TEXAS, YOU ARE SPECIAL - ONLY YOU CAN DO THIS JOB. Many of the election day hotline positions can be staffed by lawyers around the country, but people can't come to Texas to be poll workers. That's why we need you, the Texas lawyers, to be at your polls. Thank you!

Immediate Problem

In numerous counties in Texas, the average age of poll workers in normal years is 72. Because older people are at heightened risk from COVID-19, many counties have fewer residents willing and able to serve as poll workers. Even during a pandemic, safe in-person voting is critical to many voters. For example, Black voters, Latinx voters, younger voters, and voters with disabilities are all known to vote disproportionately in person.

Work & Deliverables

We are partnering with Texas Civil Rights Project, and their election experts will provide a one-hour (online) info session (with CLE credit!).

In addition, you will attend your county's specific (online) poll worker training, which is a few hours long.

In addition to these trainings and the poll worker shift, we would love to have you help us recruit other Texans to sign up as poll workers. (And we will provide a recruitment training for these recruitment captains.)

This project is complete!

This project has been completed thanks to the efforts of our volunteers.

Visit the Project Directory to check out other projects that still need your help!

Additional Information

  • Time Commitment: 11-20 hours
  • Training Provided: Yes
  • Additional Training Details: -A one-hour online info session, for CLE credit, to introduce you to poll working and the relevant voting laws. -The online poll worker training provided by your county.
  • Site-Preference: On-Site
  • Open to Law Students: Yes
  • Bar License(s) required: Any Bar License
  • Required Languages: None
  • Required Legal Expertise: None
  • Mentoring Provided: Yes
  • Supervision Provided: Yes

Locations

  • Your county, TX
Voter Protection Corps Education & Advocacy Fund

The Voter Protection Corps Education & Advocacy Fund seeks to identify and overcome obstacles qualified voter face in registering, voting, and having their votes count.

Others have also checked out