“There have been other times in our history when we have been slow to realize the gravity of the situation we are facing and, with hindsight, wished we had spoken up, done more, taken a stand. It is never partisan to defend democracy, to defend the freedoms embedded in our Constitution and to defend the rule of law. All of these values depend on free and fair elections.” — Susan J. Kohlmann, President, New York City Bar Association

Recognizing that our elections, and with them our democracy, are under threat, and believing that lawyers are uniquely qualified and equipped to respond, the New York City Bar Association is urging the legal community to take action to protect our elections.

The following election protection opportunities for lawyers will be updated as new information becomes available.

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Safeguarding the 2024 Election: The Role for Lawyers – April 16, 2024

Anna Chu, Ben Ginsberg, Jeh Johnson, Susan J. Kohlmann, Jennifer Rodgers and Wendy R. Weiser discuss the special role lawyers will play in protecting the 2024 election, by litigating and advocating to preserve the opportunity to vote and fair elections, and also by helping potential voters navigate pitfalls. This New York City Bar Association program, co-sponsored by the ABA Task Force on Democracy and the Brennan Center for Justice, covers what is at stake, identifies the many issues to be addressed, and encourages lawyer involvement in safeguarding this crucial election.

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Poll Working, Poll Monitoring and More

With the retirement of many poll workers because of Covid, age or threats of violence and other forms of intimidation, poll work is among the most important services lawyers can provide at this time. How reassuring would it be to have officers of the court and guardians of the rule of law – who swore to uphold the constitutions of their nation and respective state – working the polls when issues arise?

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission has Poll Worker Resources for Voters, and the National Association of Secretaries of State has a web page where you can find out how to become a poll worker in your area.

Find specific information on how to be a poll worker in your state or county here.

“We the Action,” an organization connecting lawyers with causes, also has a website where you can sign up to be a poll worker and receive information updates, and they have announced a “Voter Vanguard” project to “identify and address election administration problems, combat voter purges, educate voters about their rights, and protect the vote at polling places and call centers across the country.” Those who sign up will “receive opportunities to participate in monthly engagement, education, and training events alongside experts and advocates in the field of democracy and voting rights.”

Power the Polls also provides info on how to apply to be a poll worker in your community.

The ABA‘s Poll Worker, Esq. website provides information on which states offer CLE credit for lawyers doing poll work.

The American Bar Association‘s Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice’s Perfecting Democracy initiative is collecting info from volunteers to match them with national, state and local organizations that protect voting rights. Fill out the form with your preferences for when you can volunteer (Early Voting, Election Day and/or Post-Election) and areas of interest (Nonpartisan Poll Monitor, Remote Monitor, Post-Election Activities, Redistricting, Voting Rights Litigation).

Information Hotlines

Hotlines provide immediate voter access to information about polling places, eligibility, early and mail-in voting, provisional ballots and other questions typically asked by voters. Hotlines can be staffed by law firms or by individuals working through non-partisan organizations. Probably most well-known is the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights under Law’s “Election Protection” hotline (1-866-ourvote). Information about the Lawyers Committee program, including sign-up procedures, is available at https://866ourvote.org/volunteer, which routes potential volunteers to the “We the Action” website mentioned above, where lawyers can volunteer for call centers, field work at polling places, or both. (Note: the Lawyers Committee hotline is at full capacity for the midterm elections.)

Pro Bono Legal Help

The “Election Official Legal Defense Network” (EOLDN) was created by two prominent election lawyers – Bob Bauer and Ben Ginsberg – with extensive experience representing, respectively, Democratic and Republican candidates in previous elections. Lawyers can sign up on EOLDN’s website to provide pro bono legal assistance to state and local election officials who face possible prosecution, harassment or threatened violence for performing their statutory and civic duties. (Election officials can request help on the website as well.) At the City Bar’s urging, EOLDN is also seeking law firm commitments to connect with election officials prior to election day in order to establish working relationships and educate participating lawyers in likely issues facing their prospective clients. For New York lawyers working in national firms, note that EOLDN has identified the following states as priorities for recruitment: Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin.

Register People to Vote

Register to vote, find voter registration deadlines, get absentee voting info, and more at Vote.gov.

At Vote.org, you can check your voter registration, register to vote, see what’s on your ballot, and more.

Download and print copies of this Federal Voter Registration form, valid in all 50 states and U.S. Territories.

Advocate for Free, Fair and Safe Elections

The National Task Force on Election Crises is a “cross-partisan” group of experts in election law, election administration and related areas whose mission is to prevent and mitigate a range of election crises by calling for critical preventative reforms to our election systems. You can sign up to become a “Task Force Advocate” to share their findings and recommendations here.

Run for Office!

As they say, if you want to get something done right, do it yourself! Today, 40% of state legislature races go uncontested. Visit Run for Office or Run for Something to find offices that need filling, learn how to appear on the ballot, and launch your campaign.

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Watch an Election Protection program featuring Bob Bauer, Ben Ginsberg, ABA representatives, and more here. 

Sign the Pledge: Join the 1,000+ lawyers who have signed the City Bar’s pledge on voting and the rule of law here.

Read City Bar President Susan J. Kohlmann’s column on election protection here. 

Read the City Bar’s report “The Consent of the Governed: Enforcing Citizens’ Right to Vote” here.

Read the ABA’s August 2022 Resolution and Commentary on Election Administration Guidelines here. 

Watch videos, read reports and statements, and check for upcoming events on the rule of law here.