In two months, Americans throughout the Nation will head to the polls to vote in what are perhaps the most important midterm elections of this generation. The integrity of those elections and the smooth and orderly process by which they are conducted depend on the engaged oversight of election officials and poll workers who oversee the voting and counting processes.
These dedicated people, who for generations have performed their assigned tasks in neutral and even-handed fashion, are now facing the potential of interference from partisans who seek, not a fair process, but a process skewed to favor outcomes they desire. Already, there have been instances of interference with preparation for those elections and more interference is highly likely to follow.
To prepare for that likelihood, prominent election lawyers Bob Bauer, former White House counsel to President Barack Obama, and Ben Ginsberg, former counsel to President George W. Bush’s campaign, created the Election Official Legal Defense Network (EOLDN), a project of the non-partisan, nonprofit Center for Election Innovation & Research. EOLDN provides access to free legal assistance to election officials who are hindered in or prevented from the performance of their functions because of interference, reprisals, or even exposure to criminal penalties, simply for doing their jobs.
Any election official working for a recognized governmental election authority in the United States, current or former, and regardless of political affiliation, who has been targeted due to their job is eligible to request legal help. Those acting under the supervision of a political party, such as partisan poll watchers, are not eligible.
EOLDN seeks attorneys and law firms to join the network in order to provide pro bono assistance. More information about EOLDN is available here, and attorneys who wish to participate can sign up here. To speak with EOLDN about participating, please contact [email protected].
This request is consistent with our Democracy Commitment, as an effective defense of our democracy requires granular involvement by lawyers throughout this great country. EOLDN provides an important example for accomplishing such work, and we at LDAD strongly recommend your participation in its efforts.
With thanks,
The Board, LDAD
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