Attorney General James Announces Election Protection Hotline Ahead of June Primary

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) will make its Election Protection Hotline available for the upcoming June 27, 2023 election and during New York’s early voting period, which runs from Saturday, June 17 through Sunday, June 25. The hotline will be available to troubleshoot and resolve a range of issues encountered by voters, including voting by absentee ballot or in person at their polling place. Voters that experience problems can report issues to OAG by calling the hotline at (866) 390-2992 or submitting complaints online. The OAG has also created a guide addressing frequently asked questions to assist voters.

“The right to vote is paramount to the integrity of our democracy,” said Attorney General James. “Our election protection hotline is a key resource available to alI New Yorkers throughout our great state to provide helpful guidance and address concerns. Whether they are voting by mail, stopping by an early voting site, or casting their ballot in-person at the polls, my office will ensure that New Yorkers can securely and effectively participate in our electoral process.”

Voters who have concerns or are experiencing problems are encouraged to call OAG’s hotline at (866) 390-2992 or submit complaints online to request election-related assistance in advance of the election. Written requests may be submitted at any time through the online complaint form. Hotline calls and online complaints or requests for election-related assistance are processed by OAG attorneys and staff.

The telephone hotline will be open between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM on Saturday, June 17 through Sunday, June 25, and between 6:00 AM and 9:00 PM on Election Day, Tuesday, June 27. The hotline will also be open following the election, between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM on both Wednesday, June 28 and Thursday, June 29.

The OAG has operated its Election Protection Hotline since November 2012. During previous elections, OAG fielded hundreds — and sometimes thousands — of complaints from voters across the state and worked with local election officials and others to address issues. The OAG has also taken legal action to protect against voter registration purges and to ensure that voters have adequate and equitable access to vote early as required by law.

All registered voters have the right to accessible elections. Polls are required to be open from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM on Election Day, and if voters are in line before closing, they must be allowed to vote. In addition, all registered voters have the right to vote free from coercion or intimidation, whether by election officials or any other person.

The OAG will receive and respond to election complaints relating to any of the statutes that OAG enforces. The OAG’s Election Day Hotline is coordinated and led by Voting Rights Section Chief Lindsay McKenzie and Assistant Attorneys General Nancy Trasande and Teddy Fenster, and Deputy Bureau Chief Travis England of the Civil Rights Bureau. The Civil Rights Bureau is a part of the Division for Social Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Meghan Faux and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.