Election Protection Q&A with Martin A. Hewitt

With the presidential election in the United States fast approaching, pro bono special counsel Laura Israel Sinrod caught up with special counsel Martin A. Hewitt to learn more about his pro bono work with Election Protection, the nation's largest non-partisan voter protection coalition, which is led by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. In this Q&A, Hewitt shares memorable volunteer experiences, advice for lawyers who want to participate in election protection work, common voter challenges and more.

Q: What inspired you to get involved in election protection work?
My interest started just before the last election cycle. What inspired me to get involved in election protection work is the need to ensure the integrity of the voting process and thus democracy itself.

Q: Can you share a memorable experience from your election protection efforts?
There are so many experiences that it is impossible for me to share one in particular. For me, it boils down to helping people along the many stages of the voting process to ensure that their right to vote is not infringed upon and their vote is counted. From voter registration to voting day (or early voting), I have been fortunate to help others so that the entire experience is less onerous and stressful.

Q: What are some common issues or challenges that voters face, and how does the hotline team assist in addressing them?
Some of the most common issues relate to hurdles in the voter registration process, voter ID issues, precincts either opening late or closing early, and voter intimidation to name just a few.

Q: What advice would you give to other lawyers who are considering getting involved in election protection or other pro bono initiatives?
Be neither shy nor afraid. While you may get questions from any state on various issues, it is important to know that there are myriad resources and support to help you. Part of that support comes from experienced volunteers, captains, leads and staff. One aspect of working with Election Protection that truly makes a difference is the collegiality from top to bottom. We are all there for a single purpose: to make sure voters can vote, thus preserving democracy.

Q: In what ways do you think election protection work has evolved over time or will evolve in the future?
I think the issues are becoming more urgent. The number of instances of efforts to keep voters off the voting rosters as well as increased voter intimidation has increased markedly over time. Luckily, the entire Election Protection team has risen admirably to these challenges and more.

Q: What motivates you to continue dedicating your time and expertise to supporting voters' rights through pro bono work?
One word - democracy. In our daily practice of law, we seldom have the ability to positively impact our democracy. Having worked up the ranks from volunteer to captain to lead, I have been honored to participate in this critical mission. My personal goal is to continue this work into the coming decades. I am doing what I can do, as my father did what he could do by flying in the Army Air Corps in World War II. That may sound a tad corny, but, as a country, we are at a crossroads. The work of Election Protection ensures that those who have physically defended this country have not done so in vain.

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