The Election Protection coalition has fought against disenfranchisement and promoted fairness in elections since 2001. Photo from Adobe Stock.

By Joe Ulery
Indiana News Service

INDIANA — The Election Protection Hotline is open and ready to assist voters through the 2024 election season.

Ami Gandhi, director of strategic initiatives for the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, said it is available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends. Gandhi noted the hotline will extend its hours on Election Day, Nov. 5, to ensure voters can get timely assistance.

“The hotline is answering calls from voters across the country, including Indiana voters, as we speak,” Gandhi explained. “The Election Protection hotline is available to answer voters’ calls live.”

Staffed by dedicated legal volunteers, she pointed out the hotline provides guidance on a wide range of voting topics, including locating polling places, navigating absentee voting rules and understanding ID requirements. Volunteers are trained to resolve issues as they arise and, when necessary, advocate on behalf of voters who may face additional obstacles.

The Chicago Lawyers Committee partners with organizations like Common Cause Indiana to provide comprehensive support for voters in the state. Gandhi emphasized this year, the hotline has also expanded to include in-person assistance in Fort Wayne, where legal volunteers will offer support on Election Day, including addressing potential intimidation concerns and helping people exercise their voting rights without interference.

“People might not have even thought they had a question until they start visiting the polling place or are voting,” Gandhi observed. “Sometimes people call us from the polling place or afterwards to report their experiences or ask a follow-up question.”

She added calls to the hotline reveal both excitement and anxiety among voters eager to make their voices heard. By remaining strictly nonpartisan, the hotline offers impartial, factual support to ensure all voters feel better informed and empowered to participate.