The amazing Dane County Voter Helpline

In 2015, LWV Dane County, in partnership with the Dane County Voter ID Coalition, created a volunteer-run Voter Helpline to augment its in-person outreach to Dane County voters. The helpline’s reach and impact has since grown to include 16 trained volunteers who respond to calls from around the state. Thirty experts, and their related organizations, in over 50 counties and communities provide additional direct support and local expertise as needed. Last summer and fall, more than 2,100 voters contacted the Voter Helpline for assistance in English or Spanish, proving to be a critical resource during the pandemic.

Reasons voters called the Dane County Voter Helpline during the fall of 2020

Federal funds designated for election purposes from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act were granted to LWV Dane County and the NAACP of Dane County, who worked together to advance the project. The funding supported paid staff and enabled voters to reach a knowledgeable person in real time. The grant also paid for a media campaign to publicize the phone/text contact method used by the helpline. At the same time, helpline administrators reached out to local Leagues and other partners to expand the statewide network.

Although the grant funding and ability to hire paid staff ended mid-November 2020, the Voter Helpline continues to be very active with volunteer support for the 2021 spring elections and into the future. Please share this resource widely so as many voters as possible can obtain nonpartisan, unbiased and accurate answers to their voting questions.

Call or text the Voter Helpline at 608-285-2141, or use the helpline button found at the bottom right corner of the LWV Dane County website. Thank you LWV Dane County, NAACP of Dane County and the Voter ID Coalition for creating this successful, statewide voter service.