Election Protection Coalition

The Election Protection Coalition was founded in 2004 by a coalition of major left-leaning advocacy organizations led by the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law. Other partners include large labor unions with a strong history of supporting Democrats (National Education Association, SEIU and American Federation of Teachers); two major proponents of left-leaning energy policy (Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters); the National Action Network, a leftist advocacy organization founded by controversial activist Al Sharpton; and numerous other strong left-leaning policy organizations such as the Southern Poverty Law Center and People for the American Way. The Lawyers Committee describes Election Protection as a “national election monitoring program” that became necessary “because of the controversy surrounding the 2000 Presidential election and the myriad problems reported in precincts in Florida.” Florida was narrowly won by Republican George W. Bush in 2000, providing him the electoral vote majority and the presidency. ¹ ²

At-A-Glance

Type: Non-profit, 501(c)(3), Fiscally Sponsored Project

Issue Areas: Elections Policy

Website: 866ourvote.org

Project of:

Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law

Contents

Election Protection’s program launch in 2004 featured three call centers where voters and activists were able to call-in voting irregularities, leading to several perceived violations of election law that were the basis of lawsuits in Ohio, Louisiana, and Florida. The Election Protection Coalition continues to operate election day hotlines and has also grown to become an election policy organization that opposes photo ID requirements at polling places. The left-leaning advocacy organization Common Cause manages the coalition’s “voter protection field programs” grassroots effort. ³ ⁴ ¹

Background

The Election Protection Coalition, which is also identified as 866 Our-Vote, was founded in 2004 by a coalition of major left-leaning advocacy organizations led by the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law. Other partners in the Election Protection Coalition include large labor unions with a strong history of supporting Democrats (National Education Association, SEIU and American Federation of Teachers); two major proponents of left-leaning energy policy (Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters); the National Action Network, a leftist advocacy organization founded by controversial activist Al Sharpton; and numerous other strong left-leaning policy organizations (e.g.: the Brennan Center, the Southern Poverty Law Center, Common Cause, People for the American Way, the Alliance for Justice, and State Voices). ¹ ²

The Lawyers Committee describes Election Protection as a “national election monitoring program” that became necessary “because of the controversy surrounding the 2000 Presidential election and the myriad problems reported in precincts in Florida.” Florida was narrowly won by Republican George W. Bush in 2000, providing him the electoral vote majority and the presidency. ¹

Election Protection’s program launch in 2004 featured three call centers where voters and activists were able to call-in voting irregularities. The 25,000 activists reported several perceived violations of election law that were the basis of lawsuits in Ohio, Louisiana, and Florida. ¹

Activity

The Election Protection Coalition continues to operate election day hotlines and has also grown to become an election policy organization that opposes photo ID requirements at polling places. The left-leaning advocacy organization Common Cause manages the coalition’s “voter protection field programs” grassroots effort. ³ ⁴