This image was removed due to legal reasons.

Congratulations! After what’s seemed like a decades-long campaign season, we’ve finally reached Election Day. But with news of voter intimidation at the polls—including direct threats against people of color—you may be wondering how to keep yourself, and your ballot, safe.


Have no fear, dear voter. We put together a handy guide on voter intimidation that explains what it is (and isn’t), and who you can report it to. We also compiled information on your state’s particular voting rules, and how to make sure no one interferes with your hard-earned right to vote.

What is voter intimidation?

Voter intimidation is prohibited under state and federal law, which says no person “shall intimidate, threaten, coerce…any other person for the purpose of interfering with the right of such other person to vote or to vote as he may choose.” These laws are applied differently, depending on the state; while some agree that violent or physical threats are illegal, what constitutes non-violent intimidation varies. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), “aggressively questioning” another voter about their criminal record or citizenship, falsely claiming to be an elections official, and spreading incorrect information about voter requirements all constitute intimidation.


Historically, those who are most at risk for voter intimidation are people of color, students, and people with disabilities. In this election, the disenfranchisement of trans voters is also an issue.

Although much of the concern around voter intimidation centers on Trump’s most fervent supporters, poll observers and workers may also—knowingly or unknowingly—engage in inappropriate or threatening behavior. In the past, this has included telling voters they couldn’t cast a ballot unless they spoke English and videotaping voters who needed physical assistance—both of which are illegal.

Hot spots for intimidation

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is encouraging his supporters to watch the polls in swing states, particularly those that are considered Democratic strongholds with large minority populations. Ohio is one hot bed, with a local man telling the Boston Globe that he would racially profile Mexicans, Syrians, and “people who can’t speak American”). Arizona, Nevada, Pennsylvania (particularly Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs), and North Carolina (where thousands of voters were illegally purged from voter registries) are also areas of concern.




And while the Department of Justice says it’ll be standing at the ready to stop voter intimidation, some fear that its observers may not have access to at-risk polling sites.

How to protect yourself

First, know what’s legal and illegal when it comes to voting in your state. Be wary of misinformation, and aware of the most common voter scams in this election cycle, such as texting your vote. Also, report if you see any of these scams on social media (Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey recently took on one account that was pushing false voter information).


“In the event that there's intimidation going on at the polling place…what we say is 'don't engage with the person trying to intimidate you,’” said Marcia Johnson-Blanco, co-director of the Voting Rights Project for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a nonpartisan nonprofit that advocates for equal rights for minority groups.

According to the ACLU’s guidelines on voter intimidation, in many states, private citizens and official poll observers aren’t allowed to interact directly with voters. If they have suspicions about your eligibility, they must report it to an official poll worker. Self-designated or unofficial poll observers aren’t allowed inside a polling place. While laws vary by state, if someone challenges your qualifications to vote, you can generally resolve the issue and cast a regular ballot by signing a sworn statement that says you fulfill your state’s requirements. If you’re not on the list of registered voters, you can fill out a provisional ballot, which all voters are entitled to.




Remember: Don’t let anyone influence you into doing something illegal, like videotaping voters at a polling place, and avoid getting physical with someone who tries to intimidate or threaten you. Instead, alert an official poll worker, and consult our list of resources for reporting voter intimidation and interference at the bottom of this post.

Voting rules you should know

Check out the rules for voting in your state, here. We’ve listed some notable ones, below:





Resources

