AG James Announces Election Day Hotline To Protect Voter Access During Today's Election
AG James Announces Election Day Hotline to
Protect Voter Access During Today’s Election
Voters Experiencing Problems Can Call 800-771-7755 or Email election.hotline@ag.ny.gov
Between 6AM and 9PM Today, November 5, 2019
NEW YORK – Attorney General Letitia James announced that her office will conduct an Election Day Hotline during today’s general election. Live volunteers will be available to troubleshoot and resolve a range of issues encountered by voters at their poll sites across the state. The Attorney General urges voters experiencing problems or issues at the polls to call the office’s hotline at 1-800-771-7755, email election.hotline@ag.ny.gov, or contact the Attorney General’s Office on social media at @NewYorkStateAG any time between 6:00 AM and 9:00 PM today. The hotline will be staffed by attorneys and staff in the Attorney General’s Civil Rights Bureau.
“Fair and open elections are a cornerstone of our democracy, and my office is committed to ensuring voter access to the polls is protected,” said Attorney General James. “If anyone encounters issues or witnesses unlawful behavior, we encourage them to contact our voter protection hotline. My office stands ready to assist and address any issue impeding the rights of voters.”
Voters can click here to find their poll site in New York City.
Voters can click here to check their registration status and find their poll site in New York State.
For this Election, key changes in election law that were enacted this year will be in effect throughout New York State, including:
- Voters had the opportunity to cast ballots early this year, from Saturday, October 26 through Sunday, November 3. Please note that going forward, New York elections will have an early voting period starting from the tenth day prior to Election Day until the second day prior to Election Day.
- Voters who have moved from one county in New York to another county within New York may now cast a ballot at their new residence without resubmitting an entirely new registration form. This can be done by filling out an affidavit ballot at their new residence's local poll site. If you need help locating your new poll site, you can call your local Board of Elections, or the New York Attorney General's Office.
Please also note, that any poll site with contested elections in New York will open at 6:00 AM, and close at 9:00 PM. If you have a contested election in your jurisdiction, and your poll site is closed, please call your local Board of Elections, or the New York Attorney General’s Office.
The Attorney General’s office has operated the voter access hotline since November 2012. During previous elections, the office fielded hundreds – and sometimes thousands – of complaints from voters across the state and worked with local election officials and others to address issues. In 2017, in part from information received from an Election Hotline, the Attorney General’s office sued and secured a consent decree with the New York City Board of Elections regarding voter registration purges. Most recently, the Attorney General's Office operated the Election Hotline during the early voting period that lasted from October 26 until November 3. This was the first ever early voting period in New York, and the Office fielded calls from voters across the State seeking guidance on how to vote early.
The Election Day hotline is part of the office’s ongoing effort to reduce barriers to voting. Attorney General James reminds all registered voters that they have the right to accessible elections. In addition, all registered voters have the right to vote free from coercion or intimidation, whether by election officials or any other person.
The office will receive and respond to election complaints relating to any of the statutes that the office enforces. The Attorney General’s Election Day Hotline is being coordinated by Assistant Attorneys General Conor Duffy and Ajay Saini of the Civil Rights Bureau and led by Bureau Chief Jessica Clarke. The Chief Deputy Attorney General for the Social Justice Division is Meghan Faux.