What You Can Do About Voter Suppression

10/2/24

It is almost Halloween, and voter suppression and intimidation are scary topics. You won’t find a costume or a mask for them at your local Halloween store, but these are real problems voters are facing in November. 

All voters have the right to cast their ballot without fear and intimidation.

What does voter suppression and intimidation look like? Groups and individuals may try to:

  • Threaten voters for exercising their right to vote

  • Threaten election officials and volunteers for registering people to vote

  • Impersonate election officials

  • Discourage voter registration

  • Aggressively ask about someone’s voting record

  • Demand validity of someone’s registration status outside of designated voting locations

  • Accuse volunteers or voters of committing voter fraud

  • Spread false information with regard to voting machine tabulation

  • Block mail-in ballot drop boxes and discouraging mail ballots

  • Directly ask voters about party affiliation

  • Make phone calls warning voters not to vote

  • Act deceptively to make voters fear voting

Know your rights. You may ask a poll worker to double-check their registration list if they cannot find your voter registration. If your registration is still denied, you can cast a provisional ballot. Document incidents thoroughly using your phone (outside the polling place) or by taking notes.

What can you do? Don’t directly confront anyone. Avoid engaging with groups or individuals employing intimidation, but report it! Report incidents of voter intimidation to the Illinois State Board of Elections, and/or call the Election Protection Hotline: 

  • English: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)

  • Spanish: 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682)

  • Asian Languages: 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683)

  • Arabic: 844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287)

VotingGuest User