Voters across the country — from Texas to North Carolina to Florida — head to the polls today. For the first time in decades, citizens in nearly half the country will find it harder to vote. In 14 states, 2014 is the first major election with new voting restrictions in place.
Have you experienced problems at the polls? Let us know by mentioning @BrennanCenter in your tweet. We will update this post throughout the day as more information comes in, both in New York and nationwide.
Voters should not be discouraged from exercising their right to vote! Anyone with questions about the voting process should call 1–866-OUR-VOTE, where trained volunteers are standing by to assist voters and answer any questions they may have. The hotline is run by Election Protection.
Updated (5:30 p.m.):
Here’s what time the polls close in your state: http://t.co/Tn3oIKyBFH #Election2014 pic.twitter.com/D26XUL7Woz
— Vox (@voxdotcom) November 4, 2014.@866OURVOTE: tens of thousands of Georgia voters have still been unable to determine whether or not they can cast a regular ballot today
— Alice Ollstein (@AliceOllstein) November 4, 2014This video does a great job showing why a lot of people don’t have voter IDs: http://t.co/liUpF3lkyk
— Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) November 4, 2014
Nicole Austin-Hillery from the @BrennanCenter talks about the impacts of the Texas voter ID law. pic.twitter.com/s4wQUir9Jn
— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) November 4, 2014Average wait times to vote by race, 2012. via http://t.co/xRKLS7cIb5 pic.twitter.com/CdkiJdp91F
— Catherine Rampell (@crampell) November 4, 2014Turned down for what? Ga Secstate is investigating why @LilJon didn’t get his absentee ballot. http://t.co/1ceswJcdjS
— Emily Heil (@emilyaheil) November 4, 2014On site registration so strong in Milwaukee, election commission had to hire more people..wow
— Ed Schultz (@WeGotEd) November 4, 2014Texas resident says getting ID needed to vote "turned into a full-time job.” http://t.co/G4zP1NHuqo
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) November 4, 2014“I am disillusioned & angry, but mostly fearful” – heartrenching account by North Carolinian stripped of her vote http://t.co/pcvetw0e6i
— Ed Pilkington (@Edpilkington) November 4, 2014Even with rights restored, ex-convicts still have trouble voting in Virginia http://t.co/vw3tHumxfd pic.twitter.com/8BDv70RFLm
— ThinkProgress (@thinkprogress) November 4, 2014Map: How long does voting take in your state? http://t.co/nalswQqVqO pic.twitter.com/fKGaItBsrO
— Vox (@voxdotcom) November 4, 2014Updated (3:05 p.m.):
Reports of voters being asked for photo ID in states where voter ID not required, like WI, MO, AR. Much higher volume than prior years
— Ari Berman (@AriBerman) November 4, 2014The top trending search on Google right now—"where do i vote"—has been searched for more than 1,000,000 times Tuesday. #Election2014
— ABC News (@ABC) November 4, 2014Voting in Miami-Dade running much smoother than 2012 when people waited >6 hrs to vote http://t.co/gsM8M1po9m pic.twitter.com/zF5qpcvH6U
— ThinkProgress (@thinkprogress) November 4, 2014WATCH: #GA voter’s address change not processed; he’ll lose 1–2 hrs of work to vote on #ElectionDay http://t.co/0txsPz9jxs via @amprog
— Election Protection (@866OURVOTE) November 4, 2014Being white on Election Day means you probably didn’t stand in a crazy line to vote http://t.co/GmuzYg8RNX
— Vox (@voxdotcom) November 4, 2014In Missouri, poll workers asking for 2 forms of ID if voter doesn’t have photo ID. THIS IS NOT REQUIRED IN MISSOURI http://t.co/3R87Tug5qa
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) November 4, 2014Not good #Election2014 timing… Still. pic.twitter.com/19CxNgaY0V
— Celeste Katz (@CelesteKatzNYC) November 4, 2014Poll monitors in Houston report that 7+ voting places opened late today, making it difficult for those trying to vote before work
— Alice Ollstein (@AliceOllstein) November 4, 2014There’s still time to #govote & make your voice heard! Let’s show the #powerofourvote today. http://t.co/edcyIVuciK
— craignewmark (@craignewmark) November 4, 2014Updated (12:45 p.m.):
Here’s a real-time heat map of everyone who’s clicked Facebook’s “I voted” button http://t.co/uOTLnFywmU http://t.co/jRxkK6FEkx
— Brian Fung (@b_fung) November 4, 2014Troubling: NC voters, many elderly & disabled, showed up at their polling place today to find it closed http://t.co/eJUcAYcijy
— Annie-Rose Strasser (@ARStrasser) November 4, 2014Voting this morning took me about ten minutes, which is exactly how it should be everywhere.
— Adam Serwer (@AdamSerwer) November 4, 2014My dad being absent from the rolls at his polling place may have actually been an honest mistake. But it may cost him his chance to vote.
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) November 4, 2014#GoVote because the only Voter ID you need is YOU! (And also a Voter ID in a lot of places.) http://t.co/5BccEpYl8W pic.twitter.com/F69KK6hMgR
— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) November 4, 2014Updated (11:45 a.m.):
#ElectProtect volunteers are ready to help! Call them at 866-OURVOTE (866–687–8683)! #ElectionDay #GOTV2014 pic.twitter.com/qCr98cmNbP
— Election Protection (@866OURVOTE) November 4, 2014Malloy campaign filing a complaint in state court asking for extended voting hours to accommodate Hartford voters who had trouble at polls
— Alison Cowan (@cowannyt) November 4, 2014Polling place on the South side of Chicago in Ward 6 didn’t have ballot measures out for voters this morning @866OURVOTE.
— Charlene Carruthers (@CharleneCac) November 4, 2014Malloy Among Voters Delayed At Hartford Poll Sites http://t.co/LjqBmy3tTd
— CBS New York (@CBSNewYork) November 4, 2014On the phone with older African-American man being made to vote provisionally because 1 digit on his VR card is transposed. #TX #VoterID
— Sarah Slamen (@VictorianPrude) November 4, 2014Our pollwatcher at MLK Center, South Side #Chicago says they don’t have Election Day Registration forms. @866OURVOTE @CommonCause @Suntimes
— Common Cause IL (@CommonCauseIL) November 4, 2014A few problems w/ photo ID rollout reported around VA this AM. Call @866OURVOTE if you know of any issues. #VAVotes #VAelection2014
— Tram Nguyen (@TramVNM) November 4, 2014