Hotline Available For Voters Who Encounter Problems On Election Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
:  Kirsten Bokenkamp, Communications Coordinator, ACLU of Texas, (713) 942-8146 x 109 or (832) 691-7013; [email protected]

HOUSTON – The ACLU of Texas wants voters to know that they do not need to provide a photo ID at the polls because the new law known as Voter ID has not yet taken effect.

“We hope that all the confusion surrounding what form of identification is necessary to vote will not keep people from going out and voting on election day,” said Dotty Griffith, Director of Public Education for the ACLU of Texas.  “The take home message is that voter ID rules have not yet changed, and we urge all people eligible to vote to head to the polls tomorrow, regardless of if they have a photo ID.”

"Harris County election officials were first given instructions that voters had to show a photo ID. That instruction is flat out wrong,” said Rebecca Robertson, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy. “We understand that the manual used by election officials has now been corrected, and we hope this confusion has not occurred in other counties, but we are concerned that voters without photo ID will be turned away. Voters who encounter problems at the polls should call ACLU’s Voter Protection Hotline, 877-523-2792." 

The voter ID bill (SB 14), which will require Texans to show a valid photo ID to vote, won’t go into  effect until January 1, 2012. 

A copy of the informational flyer is available here.