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Election Volunteer Reporting and Resources


Thank you for being a nonpartisan election volunteer!

Below you will find links to the reporting you will do during your shift, as well as resources that may be useful.

A few reminders...
  1. The Hotline is your best friend! Call in issues or use it to support voters – and feel free to have others use it too!
    • English: 866-OUR-VOTE | 866-687-8683
    • Spanish/English: 888-VE-Y-VOTA | 888-839-8682
    • Asian Languages/English: 888-API-VOTE | 888-274-8683
    • Arabic/English: 844-YALLA-US | 844-925-5287
  2. We will be checking in to see how things are going! Expect to get calls and/or texts from Shannon, Kevin and/or Tyler. If you need to contact us, you can call us at 313-572-1139, then just select one of our extensions.
  3. ALWAYS fill out your reporting forms at each site you go to, in real-time.
  4. Do NOT talk to voters or workers inside the 100ft electioneering zone (unless you are simply saying hi or responding to a poll worker question/request).
    • Reminder: You should cover up or remove your identifiers when entering the electioneering zone.
  5. If you are comfortable, say can say hi to the poll workers – let them know that you are a “nonpartisan poll watcher“- and will be outside for a bit in case anyone needs support. You do not need to sign in with the poll workers, just with us.
    • Reminder: “poll watcher” is a term used interchangeably with “poll/roving monitor” and the law has been interpreted to permit members of the public who are not credentialed challengers to observe elections. This is NOT the same as credentialed “poll challengers“.

Reporting

First thing you will do when you arrive to your site is fill out this quick Check-In Reporting which gives us insight into how your voting site it set up and prepared for voters.

Check-In Reporting

Next, you will fill out the Accessibility Reporting which gives us insights into how accessible a voting site is for folks with disabilities.

Accessibility Reporting

Please take at least one photo of yourself during your volunteer shift and share stories about your experiences. This form can be filled out more than once. This is important for us being able to share out the importance of this work.

Volunteer Photo & Experience Form

The 866-OUR VOTE hotline is ALWAYS your first stop if you cannot support the voter on your own.  

This form should be used to report things that you solved on your own without the hotline, OR, for additional information about an issue you reported to the hotline. 

Issue/Support Reporting

These forms are meant to be filled out in real time, while you are at your location. If you are going to multiple sites, you will want to fill these reports out at each location.

Resources

The Hotline

The Hotline is your best friend! Call in issues or use it to support voters – and feel free to have others use it too!

  • English: 866-OUR-VOTE | 866-687-8683
  • Spanish/English: 888-VE-Y-VOTA | 888-839-8682
  • Asian Languages/English: 888-API-VOTE | 888-274-8683
  • Arabic/English: 844-YALLA-US | 844-925-5287

You can learn more about the hotline and for some basic Michigan election FAQs, check out https://866ourvote.org/state/michigan.

Our Google Resource Drive
Personalized Voter Information

The Michigan Voter Information Center has tons of great information, including a way to look up personalized voter information. With just entering a couple pieces of information, you can look up a voter:

  • Registration status
  • Absentee ballot status
  • Early voting, Election Day, and drop box locations
  • Clerk’s information
  • What’s on their ballot

This is a public site, so feel free to share the link with voters or look up their information on their behalf at https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/.

Other helpful resource links
    Your Volunteer Profile
    • Your “volunteer profile” can be found at http://app.protectthevote.net
      • This is where you signed up for training and shifts
      • You can manage your shifts in this tool.

      FAQs

      Where should I be during my shift?
      • We train our volunteers to stay outside of the electioneering zone (100 ft from the polling location), for the majority of your shift.
        • Why? Because outside of the electioneering zone, you are allowed to talk to voters. Anyone is allowed to talk to voters there!
        • Other orgs might train their monitors to be inside, that’s okay for them
      • You can go inside and observe there – BUT it must be in the designated public viewing area that each voting site is required to have.
        • You can talk to poll workers, say hi and introduce yourself. Do not be disruptive to the process, and some will tell you not to talk to them. Follow their lead and their vibe.
        • You cannot talk to any voters inside of the voting site, or take photos inside of the voting room. There are nuanced rules around photos, so it’s best to only take them outside of the building.
      • You may or may not see other volunteers at your polling site. There are thousands of sites around the state, so it is variable.
      What should I wear for my shift?
      • Wear anything you would like that is nonpartisan
      • If you have a physical identifier like a t-shirt, lanyard, hat, vest or other item that is nonpartisan Election Protection or has the 866-OUR-VOTE hotline – wear it!
        • Reminder: Remove your gear or cover it when entering the electioneering zone.
      • We recommend preparing for Michigan weather with what you wear. That means hats, jackets/coats, gloves, proper footwear, etc.
      What should I do in case of bad weather?
      • Voting happens rain or shine, so we are out there no matter what!
      • Feel free to bring what you need to prepare for weather. Umbrella, fan, cooler, etc.
      • Head inside if you need to! We prefer for your time to be outside for the majority of your shift, but no one wants to talk in the rain, and if you need to warm up (or cool down), it’s okay to go inside! Your safety is important!
        • Just remember, no talking to voters inside – it is observation only, and you should remove or cover your identifiers when inside the 100′ electioneering zone.

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