A Metro Detroit civil rights group is alleging voter harassment in Hamtramck during Election Day. Michigan’s chapter of the Council on American–Islamic Relations or CAIR is making the complaint.
The group said Hamtramck’s city clerk threatened to remove a poll challenger who was assisting a voter requiring Arabic-language assistance. CAIR staff attorney Amy Doukoure said that’s illegal.
“Poll challengers are here to observe and to assist at the polls," Doukoure said. "They’re not prohibited from helping people. People who come into the polls who need assistance are able to get assistance from anybody that they need assistance from.”
According to Michigan election law, poll challengers are not authorized to approach voters or talk directly to voters for any reason.
But, Doukoure said it was the voter who requested help from the challenger.
Under federal law, voters with limited English proficiency can request help from the person of their choice.
A Metro Detroit civil rights group is alleging voter harassment in Hamtramck during Election Day. Michigan’s chapter of the Council on American–Islamic Relations… or CAIR (care)… is making the complaint. The group says Hamtramck’s city clerk threatened to remove a poll challenger who was assisting a voter requiring Arabic-language assistance. CAIR staff attorney Amy Doukoure (DOO-kuh-ray) says that’s illegal.
CAIRComplaint1103s1 “Poll challengers are here to observe and to assist at the polls. They’re not prohibited from helping people. People who come into the polls who need assistance are able to get assistance from anybody that they need assistance from.” [:13]
According to Michigan election law… poll challengers are not authorized to approach voters or talk directly to voters for any reason. But Doukoure says it was the voter who requested help from the challenger. Under federal law… voters with limited English proficiency can request help from the person of their choice.