It is against the law for someone–even an ICE agent or federal officer–to prevent you from exercising your right to vote. This guide covers three scenarios and what you can do if you or your neighbors experience them.
What to do if…
Someone is trying to intimidate you as you attempt to return your ballot:
Your safety always comes first – you do not have to confront someone who is harassing or threatening you. Instead, move somewhere safe and try to record what happened. Write down the location, time, and description. You can use this to report to the state of Washington.
Find a different drop box on the Secretary of State’s statewide drop box locator. Or, get a personalized list of drop boxes and voting center locations by signing in to VoteWA.gov.
There is ICE enforcement activity and intimidation:
Rumors may spread about ICE and federal agent presence at the polls. This understandably creates fear in the community, but remember: all eligible voters have the right to vote without threat or coercion.
If you are concerned about immigration enforcement activity:
- Prioritize your safety and avoid confrontation.
- Do not spread unverified reports.
- If you witness threats, harassment, or interference with voting, document what happened if it is safe to do so.
- Reach out to your county elections office or a trusted legal organization for assistance.
There are also organizations that will walk with people to the dropbox. If you live in Yakima or Sunnyside, you can join Working Washington Rights Center on November 2 and 3 for accompaniment to the drop box.
Your employer stops you from voting or tells you who to vote for:
It is illegal for your employer to threaten or intimidate you to interfere with your right to vote. Additionally, your vote is private. You do not have to tell your employer, supervisor, or coworkers who you voted for. If someone at work is threatening you because of how you vote or whether you vote, you can report the conduct and seek legal assistance.
For each of the above scenarios, you can report and seek legal assistance.
To report, notify the Secretary of State by calling the Elections Division of the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State is the chief election officer for all federal, state and local elections in Washington. Contact information for the Secretary of State is listed at www.sos.wa.gov/elections/contact-info.
You can contact the Elections Division of the Secretary of State’s Office at:
- Phone: (360) 902- 4180 or (800) 448-4881
- Email: elections@sos.wa.gov
- Mail: P.O. Box 40229, Olympia, WA 98504
- In person: 416 Sid Snyder Ave SW, Olympia, WA 98501
- Online:https://www.sos.wa.gov/contact-us-webform
To seek legal assistance, consult a lawyer. You always have the right to consult a lawyer to talk about your situation, including the possibility of pursuing a private lawsuit to address the discrimination. All lawyers licensed to practice in Washington State are included in the Washington State Bar Association’s Legal Directory, which can be searched from its homepage at www.wsba.org.