ProPublica Calls For People To Document Voter Harassment and Interference On Election Day

By Sameer Rao Nov 04, 2016

Amid White supremacists and alt-right groups’ pledges to actively intimidate voters of color—even as Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump repeatedly accuses opponents of rigging the election—one publication is calling on voters to track instances of harassment and disenfranchisement at the polls this Tuesday (November 8).

Public interest-focused outlet ProPublica launched "Electionland" in September. The project seeks to document instances of voter suppression by electoral boards, as well as anything else that would delegitimize the election. "The need to cover the vote is particularly urgent this election cycle, as states have passed laws that could affect citizens’ access to the ballot box, and one of the presidential candidates has cast doubt on the validity of the system," reads the description on the project’s website

To that end, the publication seeks help from citizens willing to report anything problematic that they witness on Election Day, from broken voting machines to intimidation to people turned away at the polls. Those who wish to be in touch while voting should text ELECTIONLAND to 69866.  

ProPublica launched "Electionland" in coalition with a number of partners, including Google News Lab, Univision and The City University of New York’s (CUNY) Graduate School of Journalism. Existing coverage on early voting and voter suppression issues can be accessed via their website and Twitter

(H/t Politico)