Volunteers needed to protect voting rights

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Shan Rehman

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Sep 30, 2010, 12:55:16 PM9/30/10

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Dear Friends,

On November 2nd, Chhaya CDC will again be teaming up with the Asian American Legal Defense Fund (AALDEF) to conduct non-partisan voter surveys during the elections. The aim of these surveys will be to document voting problems as well as to analyze Asian American voting patterns. Bilingual volunteers are needed to conduct this important work. Please see the message from AALDEF below, and fill out the attached volunteer form to participate.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO DEFEND ASIAN AMERICAN VOTING RIGHTS

Asian American Election Protection and Poll Monitoring

General Elections -- Tuesday, November 2, 2010

In past elections, Asian Americans have faced a series of barriers in exercising their right to vote. For example, poll workers were hostile and made racist remarks, poll sites had too few interpreters to assist Asian American voters, translated voting materials were missing or hidden from voters, and ballots were mistranslated listing Democratic candidates as Republicans, and vice versa. When the news media reports on election returns and the vote by specific groups, Asian Americans were often overlooked.

In response, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund has conducted a non-partisan survey of Asian American voters to document Asian American voting patterns. AALDEF has also monitored the elections for compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act, which mandates bilingual ballots and forbids anti-Asian voter discrimination.

On November 2, 2010, AALDEF along with several other Asian American groups will be monitoring the elections and conducting non-partisan voter surveys at polling sites in Asian American neighborhoods in at least ten states. We need your help.

In 2008, over 1,000 volunteers polled more than 16,000 Asian American voters in eleven states. Volunteers are needed to administer a multilingual voter survey in 3-hour shifts and document voting problems on Election Day. Polls are generally open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

There will be a one and a half hour training session for all volunteers. All volunteers must be non-partisan during the time that they help.

To sign up, go to www.aaldef.net or complete the registration form on the back. Thank you!