Before West Coast voters turn in their ballots and stick an “I voted sticker” to their shirt today, a select group of veteran and aspiring lawyers will gather in a classroom in the UCLA School of Law to complete a different kind of patriotic duty.
About 40 students, faculty members and alumni of the UCLA School of Law are hosting a Election Protection hotline today, a toll-free resource service intended to answer voter questions on Election Day.
Anyone who runs into problems when casting their vote ““ such as going to the wrong polling location ““ can call the hotline and receive legal advice on how best to proceed to make sure their vote counts.
The polls open at 7 a.m., but the service will go live at 6:30 a.m. and extend until 8:30 p.m., half an hour after the polls close, taking calls from select locations in Southern Californa, including Westwood. Today marks the first time UCLA elected to host a branch of the hotline, which is a national initiative open year-round during the election year to assist voters with problems they encounter throughout the election process, according to the initiative’s website.
“We knew there was a need for additional call centers and volunteers,” said Cathy Mayorkas, the executive director of public interest programsfor the UCLA School of Law. “And it will be a good experience for student (volunteers).”
Each polling center will have the hotline’s phone number ”“ 866-OUR–VOTE ““ on display in case voters encounter any problems.
“People will call for things like “˜I thought I properly registered, but I am not allowed to vote,'” Mayorkas said. “It’s about the fundamental issue of the right to vote.”
Some UCLA students, like third-year physiological science student Julia Tong, said they hope the hotline will answer their questions during their first trip to the polls. Local hotline centers study the rules and laws in their area, which might differ according to each geographic location. The group at the UCLA School of Law also prepared to take calls from Northern California in case they are needed to assist in that region.
“It’s nice to know that when you need to clarify something, you have a direct line,” Tong said. “It’s always nice to talk to a human being (rather than online).”
Voters casting their ballot near UCLA who need to use the hotline might be directed to the calling center in the UCLA School of Law but it depends on the timing and location of their call, Mayorkas said.
Sam Lieberstein, a fourth-year ethnomusicology student, said he had problems registering in the 2008 election.
He would have taken advantage of the hotline then if he had known it existed, he said.
“The hotline would have been helpful,” Lieberstein said. “It’s a great resource.”
But some students said they think voters should not have to rely on a hotline to vote successfully.
“People who work (at the polls) should be knowledgeable enough” said Hyacinth Noble, a fourth-year Afro-American studies student.
“But it is good in the case of an emergency.”
Contributing reports by Megan Beck, Bruin contributor.