Letter to the editor | Know your voting rights | Letters to the editor

Know your voting rights

Voting in Champaign County has already begun ahead of the Nov. 5 election. When people prepare to vote, they should know that their right to do so is protected from intimidation and harassment. Federal law makes it a crime to intimidate, harass or deceive voters at home or at the polls.

As president of the Champaign County League of Women Voters, I am writing to urge citizens who have the legal right to vote to be aware of the following:

If your registration is denied, you can submit a request to verify it. If your registration is still denied, the election judge must offer you an advance ballot. If there are groups or individuals who use intimidation, you can document such incidents by taking written notes or using the telephone outside the polling station.

Please report suspected incidents of harassment, intimidation, or fraud to the Illinois State Election Commission at selections.il.gov/abouttheboard/filingcomplaints.aspx. You can also contact your local election authority or call the election protection hotline at:

• 866-OUR-VOICE (866-687-8683)
• Spanish/English: 888-VE-Y-VOTA
• Arabic/English: 844-YALLA-US
• Asian Languages/English: 888-API-VOTE

Remember: your right to vote is protected from intimidation and harassment.

The League is a non-partisan organization committed to empowering voters and making democracy work.

JANE SANTOGROSSI

Urbana