What To Do If You Are Challenged On Voting Day

REMINDER: It’s illegal to intimidate voters. It is a federal crime to intimidate, threaten, or coerce anyone in an attempt to interfere with their vote.

If someone tries to interfere with your vote, report it to your local election officials and call the Election Protection Hotline: 1-866-OUR-VOTE.

• Make sure the person challenging you has the proper credentials. The only people who can challenge you are poll watchers or other qualified voters. Poll watchers must be registered to vote in the county in which the challenge takes place.
• You cannot be challenged based merely on your race, ethnicity, national origin, language, religion or disability.
• If you are challenged on the basis of your residence, you have the right to request that the poll workers read to you the rules for determining your residency.
• If you are challenged because of immigration status or because the challenger thinks you are present in the U.S. without permission, the challenger must show proof that you are not a U.S. citizen. Suspicions based on national origin or skin color cannot be used to prevent you from casting a ballot.
• You are still eligible to vote even if you are registered both in Arizona and in another state. The challenger must prove that you actually voted in the other state before you can be ineligible.
• If you are challenged because your address has changed within the same county, you can still vote. Simply inform the poll workers of your current address.
• If you are challenged based on your perceived status as an ex-felon, it may be helpful to bring along documents showing that your rights have been restored, but it is not necessary. The challenger must show (1) that you were convicted of a felony, and (2) that your rights have not been restored.
• Even if the poll workers accept the challenge, they must still allow you to vote by a provisional ballot. You are entitled to seal your provisional ballot yourself, and you should receive a receipt with information on how to verify your eligibility and have your vote counted.
• Challenges must not be allowed to disrupt the normal flow of voting. If a challenger becomes disruptive, ask the official poll workers to remove the challenger.

Remember: Don’t be intimidated or discouraged from voting!

Updated: October 2020