Ohio Election Protection Volunteer Opportunities 2020

What is Election Protection: The goal of our non-partisan election protection program is to ensure Ohio voters have the information they need in order to cast their ballot this November. We work to minimize barriers to the ballot box, particularly for under-represented communities. By creating a simple and satisfying voting experience, we can empower voters and create a more representative democracy.

The first component of the program is the Election Protection Hotline, 866-OUR-VOTE, the nation's largest non-partisan hotline to ask voting questions and report voting problems. The second component is a field program for volunteers to promote awareness of the 866-OUR-VOTE Hotline and assist voters with voting questions or problems.

Who We Are: We are the Ohio Voter Rights Coalition, a network of nonpartisan voter advocates including ACLU of Ohio, All Voting is Local, Common Cause Ohio, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights under Law, League of Women Voters of Ohio, and more.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Please consider one or more of the following Election Protection volunteer opportunities this year:

Ambassadors - Ambassadors are needed now through Election Day to help spread the word about the Election Protection Hotline 866-OUR-VOTE to their friends, neighbors and community members. Ambassadors distribute posters, palm cards, or yard signs featuring the Election Protection Hotline 866-OUR-VOTE to places such as barbershops, bookstores, churches, coffee shopes and food pantries. Ambassadors can also be trained on how to answer frequently asked voting questions such as updating voter registration, requesting and tracking absentee ballots, and referring voting problems to the Election Protection Hotline. Click here to learn more or to sign up to be an Ambassador.

Poll Monitors - Poll Monitors are needed to assist voters outside the polls during Early Voting (October 6-November 2) and on Election Day (November 3). Poll Monitors stand outside of early vote centers and polling places to answer voter questions, distribute fliers with voter education, and report problems to the Election Protection Hotline. Modifications will be available for volunteers who wish to monitor the polls from their cars. Our priority will be covering polling locations, which have historically had the most problems in: Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo and Youngstown. Training will be provided. Click here to learn more or sign up to be a Poll Monitor.

Social Media Monitors - Social Media Monitors are needed now through Election Day to ensure accurate voting information on social media. Disinformation and misinformation can spread like wildfire and are real threats to this election. Because the flow of information is constant and the content is not viewable by all, we will need assistance calling out these campaigns. Volunteers will receive training on how to monitor their social media feeds for disinformation and misinformation so that we can source it, report it and remove it if needed. Social Media Monitors will also be provided a toolkit for promoting posiitve messages about voting and to extend the reach of critical voter education. Click here to learn more or sign up to be a Social Media Monitor.

Command Center Volunteers (Legal Experience Preferred) - Volunteers are needed to monitor the Election Protection Hotline to ensure that election problems are resolved by boards of election officials. Command Center Volunteers will receive training on how to use Our Vote Live, the database of election related questions and problems reported through the Election Protection Hotline. Volunteers can monitor the Hotline virtually from the comfort of their home or office. Click here to learn more or sign up to be a Command Center Volunteer.

PeaceKeepers - Are you a faith leader or social worker committed to voting rights? Peacekeeping teams made up of clergy and social workers are being trained in order to be deployed the last two weekends before the election (at early vote) and on Election Day. Trainings will be Tuesday, October 20 at 2pm, and Thursday, 10/22 at 6:30pm. Read more about it and sign up for a PeaceKeeper training at this link.

Text Banking Volunteers - Join us every Monday at 6pm as we mobilize thousands of Ohio Voters to Get Out the Vote! This election just might be one of the most important elections in our lifetime. We are activating our friends, family and neighbors to vote with our rights in mind. Sign up here to be a Text Banking Volunteer.

Election Day Poll Workers - Ohio is facing a critical shortage of Election Day Poll Workers. On Election Day, you’ll help voters sign in and find their voting location,ensure voting machines are working properly, help enforce the rules that maintain the fairness and security of the day’s election, and work from 6 a.m. until your polling place finishes tallying votes, which would be sometime after 8 p.m. Get paid for your time, defend democracy, and help make this November a successful election! Sign up today to work as a Poll Worker and be connected with your local county board of elections.