Civil Rights Group Reminds Voters to Know Their Rights While Casting Their Ballots
Today, on the first day of early voting in the Maryland General Election, the state’s office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced that it launched a statewide robocall campaign last evening targeting 13,000+ registered Muslim voters in the state urging them to vote to help ensure maximum participation in the democratic process. The civil rights group is reminding voters to know their rights at the polls, and to report if they observe any voter suppression, or experience problems casting their ballots.
Important Dates:
Early voting: October 24 – October 31
General Election Day: November 5
Candidates in the Maryland General Election include:
Kamala Harris/Tim Walz
Donald Trump/J.D. Vance
Jill Stein/Butch Ware
Chase Oliver/Mike ter Maat
Maryland voters will also be voting for candidates in one U.S. Senate race and eight U.S. House of Representatives races, as well as several down ballot races.
“Now is the most crucial time for American Muslims to be politically active,” said CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry. “Building political power requires exercising our right to vote. There are an estimated over 300,000 Muslim residents in our state, which means the Muslim vote can have a significant impact on elections, especially in down ballot races.”
The robocall broadcast the following message:
“Assalamualaikum, this message is from CAIR Maryland. Early voting starts [October 24], and your voice matters. Please make a plan to vote and encourage your friends and family to join you. Find your early voting polling center on the Maryland Board of Elections website. Every vote counts, and together we can make a difference. For more info, contact us at mdoutreach@cair.com.”
Maryland Board of Elections website:
https://elections.maryland.gov
Quick Tips:
- Check your voter registration status and review your info before voting
- Locate and print your sample ballot so you know what it looks like in advance and you can research the candidates: https://bit.ly/mdvoterstatus
- Locate your polling place, note the address and hours of operation: https://bit.ly/mdpollingplacelocator
- Consider voting early if possible. Maryland is a same-day voter registration state. You can register to vote at your designated polling place during early voting and on Election Day
- If you are a first-time voter, plan to take an acceptable form of ID. This can be any state or federal government-issued ID card. You may also take a current utility bill, bank statement, or government-issued check that shows your name and address.
- If you are not a first-time voter, you may not need identification in Maryland.
- Read the ballot instructions carefully.
- Take your time completing your ballot and ask for help if you need it.
- Report any issues or concerns at the polls to CAIR at mdoutreach@cair.com
Knowing your rights at the polling place is essential to ensure a fair and secure voting experience.
- Polling Hours: Polls in Maryland are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. As long as you are in line by 8 p.m., you are entitled to vote, even if the line extends past that time.
- Assistance: If you need assistance voting due to a disability or language barrier, you are entitled to receive help. Poll workers can assist, or you can bring someone of your choice to help you.
- Provisional Ballots: If there’s an issue with your voter registration or identification, you can request a provisional ballot. Your vote will be counted once the issue is resolved.
- Voter Intimidation and Discrimination: It’s illegal for anyone to try to intimidate, harass, or prevent you from voting. If you feel threatened or discriminated against, report the incident to CAIR and election officials and call the Election Protection hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE.
- ID Requirements: Maryland voters typically do not need to show ID at the polls unless they are voting for the first time and did not provide proper identification during registration.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062; CAIR Maryland Outreach Coordinator Kim Syuardi, ksyuardi@cair.com, 202-850-9293