Ahead of Pennsylvania’s presidential primary election, today Common Cause Pennsylvania is launching recruitment for its 2024 Election Protection poll monitoring program to address any voter confusion, intimidation, or suppression at the polls. 

The nonpartisan program will deploy hundreds of trained volunteers to provide assistance to voters in dozens of counties to ensure Pennsylvanians experience a smooth election process. 

“Our democracy is strongest when we all have an equitable opportunity to participate,” said Philip Hensley-Robin, executive director of Common Cause Pennsylvania. “But we know that mistakes happen, and voters sometimes encounter challenges that prevent them from submitting their ballot correctly and on time. Our Election Protection Program volunteers help voters navigate the election system so that every Pennsylvania voter will have their vote count.”

For the last decade, Common Cause Pennsylvania and partners including the ACLU of Pennsylvania, the Lawyers Committee, New Pennsylvania Project, and more have spearheaded the Pennsylvania Election Protection Program, leveraging thousands of trained volunteers to serve as voters’ first line of defense when encountering any problems on Election Day. Nonpartisan poll monitors help voters overcome confusing voting rules, outdated infrastructure, rampant misinformation, and needless obstacles to the ballot box.

“Pennsylvania is widely known as a purple state, and voters know just how powerful their votes are,” said Jill Greene, voting and elections program manager at Common Cause Pennsylvania. “But today we know voters face increasing barriers to casting a ballot, including targeted disinformation campaigns designed to confuse and deter voters, particularly Black and Latino voters in cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The Election Protection Program is a key tool in ensuring that every voter has the chance to cast their vote — and have that vote count.”

To learn more about the 2024 Election Protection Program, click here.