The Houston Coalition for Black Civic Participation has a new weapon in its arsenal to ensure that every vote counts in the November 5, 2002 election. For the first time in Harris County, Voter’s Advocates will be used at 50 precincts to help anyone who requires assistance at the polling site.

Wearing eye-catching black vests with the words “You Have The Right to Vote,” emblazoned on the front in large white print, the Advocates will be outside each polling site ready to assist anyone who has a problem or question about his or her right to vote. Voter’s Advocates will also be in contact with volunteer attorneys who will assist should the problem require legal skills that exceed the advocates’ proficiency.

Standing within at least 100 feet of the polling entrance to comply with regulations, Voter’s Advocates will provide the following assistance:

• Monitoring the activity of the polling location – opening and closing times, adequacy of voting equipment, and the application of voting regulations;
• Assisting voters who might encounter difficulty in voting;
• Providing precinct representatives with guidance on the Texas Voters’ Bill of Rights and the corresponding laws in the Texas Election Code, and;
• Contacting legal representation to help with voting irregularities
Enforcing the Texas Voters’ Bill of rights is the primary function of the Voters Advocates. Based on the Texas Election Code, the Bill of Rights specifies in easy to understand language the Texas laws that determine voting procedures. A few of the regulations to be found in the The Texas Voters Bill of Rights define: when a person may be turned away from voting; the opening and closing times for polling locations; the requirements for assistance in the event that someone is disabled, bilingual, or unable to read; and the voting rights of those who have been convicted of a crime and served time.

In addition to the use of Voter’s Advocates other strategies in the election protection campaign include several e-slate machine trainings, canvassing the 50-targeted precincts with election protection material, and a Judicial Forum hosting all judicial candidates.

E-slate trainings allow the public to practice use of new computerized voting ballots. The Judicial Forum, hosted by the National Congress of Black Women, a coalition partner, will occur Saturday, November 2, 2002, 11:30a.m. at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. The Texas Voter’s Bill of Rights will be distributed by hundreds of volunteers canvassing the precincts on election- day.

The Houston Coalition for Black Civic Participation, is one of ten cities affiliated with the National Coalition for Black Civic Participation to improve the voting participation in “under-voting precincts.” The Houston Coalition is a nonpartisan effort comprised of local and national partners. In Harris County, supporters include the NAACP, the Houston Area Urban League, the Kappa Alpha Psi Alumni Chapter, National Congress of Black Women, SHAPE Community Center, People for the American Way Foundation, Congress of Black Women – Houston, Missouri City LINKS, William Lawson Institute for Peace and Prosperity, KMJQ- Radio One – Texas, Alpha Kappa Alpha and many more.

The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, a nonpartisan organization founded in 1976 to increase African-American participation in civil society, educates and helps voters assert their rights. People for the American Way, partnering with the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, is a not-for-profit organization founded by Norman Lear and Barbara Jordan in 1980 to promote the democratic values of freedom, opportunity, tolerance, and diversity. Other national collaborators include the A. Phillip Randolph Institute, the AFL-CIO, and the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

For more information on the election protection campaign, voter’s advocates or to receive copies of the Texas Voters’ Bill of rights call 713/393-8719.