Patricia Nugent October 31, 2022

The League of Women Voters of Saratoga County is reminding registered voters that it is their legal and constitutional right to cast a vote without harassment, interference, or intimidation.

The League has been combating voter suppression efforts and legislation since its inception in 1920. We’ve seen a renewed surge of denied access since 2013 when the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was gutted by the Supreme Court. But making it hard for certain citizens to vote has recently devolved into a more dangerous mission: Voter intimidation, especially of more vulnerable populations. Since 2020, there has been a concerted effort by some groups to train poll watchers to disrupt and challenge voting across our nation. Various methods are being employed.

Might you be intimidated if someone with a guard dog on a chain was standing near the ballot box? Or taking your photograph? Or erroneously reporting that you are ineligible to vote for various reasons? This is unacceptable in a democracy, and the LWV will not stand for it. Casting doubt on election integrity is one way to destroy a democracy – it’s dangerous and destructive to erode public confidence in the electoral system. Therefore, any attempts to dissuade voter participation should be reported immediately.

The NYS League of Women Voters is assuring voters that systems are in place in NY to conduct secure, reliable, and fair elections. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, the actual incidence of voter fraud in the U.S. ranges from 0.0003 to 0.0025 percent, less than the odds of being struck by lightning.

If you encounter a challenge or interference at the polls, do not leave the site without voting UNLESS you feel physically threatened. The LWV advises that any attempts to dissuade or influence voting should be reported to the Attorney General’s hotline at 866-390-2992. Another hotline available to guide voters and take meaningful action to address problems is the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law. They are staffed with well‐trained volunteers and pro bono attorneys from around the country. They also have assistance available in multiple languages. The phone number for the Election Protection Hotline is 1-866-687-8683 (1-866-OUR-VOTE).

Early voting runs for nine days before the election, from October 29 through November 6, at various polling places. Any registered voter can vote at any of those designated sites within their county during this period. On Election Day, voters can only cast a ballot at the polling place in their own election district. For more information about what’s on your ballot, visit www.vote411.org/ballot, funded by the League of Women Voters Education Fund.

Thank you for being part of our mission to keep our democracy viable and vibrant. These are challenging times, but we are hopeful that reason will win out and our nation will heal.