VotingThe American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee announced today it has created a toll-free Election Day hotline to help voters who encounter problems Tuesday.
A new law requires voters to present acceptable government-issued photo identification at the polls.
"We are concerned that some voters might be turned away from the polls because of the new photo ID law or because they are not fully aware of their rights under Tennessee law," Hedy Weinberg, the ACLU Tennessee's executive director, said in a news release. "With the help of the hotline and Voting Rights Resource Center, voters will know their rights and be able to assert them on Election Day."
State election officials say those without appropriate photo ID will be allowed to cast provisional ballots, but must go to the county election commission and show photo ID within two days after the election or their votes won't count.
The toll-free Election Day hotline number is 877-651-1999. The hotline will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST to let voters report voting problems and obtain assistance if they feel they have been unfairly denied the right to vote.
Voters can also access ACLU-TN's online Voting Rights Resource Center at www.aclu-tn.org/voting-rights-resource-center.html.