Attorney General James Announces Election Protection Hotline Ahead of November General Election

October 23, 2026

NEW YORK - New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) will make its Election Protection Hotline available for the November 3, 2026 general election and during New York's early voting period, which runs from Saturday, October 24 through Sunday, November 1. The hotline will be available to troubleshoot and resolve a range of issues encountered by voters, including issues voting by mail, or in-person at their polling place during early voting or on Election Day. A guide addressing frequently asked questions is also currently available to assist voters with, among other things, the absentee and mail ballot process, voter registration issues, and any problems encountered at the polls.

"Our democracy was built on the right of every American to vote and make their voices heard at the ballot box," said Attorney General James. "Our Election Protection Hotline is here to support New Yorkers at every step of the voting process. New Yorkers deserve to cast their ballots with confidence, and we will continue working to ensure that our elections remain free from intimidation and harassment."

Attorney General James urges voters experiencing election-related problems to call the OAG hotline at (866) 390-2992, or submit a complaint online. The telephone hotline will be open between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. during early voting (Saturday, October 24 through Sunday, November 1), and between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3. The hotline will also be available on the days before and after Election Day, Monday, November 2 and Wednesday, November 4, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Written requests for assistance may be submitted at any time through the online complaint form. Hotline calls and written requests for assistance are processed by OAG attorneys and staff.

The OAG has operated its Election Protection Hotline since November 2012. During previous elections, OAG fielded hundreds - and sometimes thousands - of complaints from voters across the state and worked with local election officials and other partners to address issues. The OAG has also taken legal action to protect against voter registration purges and to ensure that voters have adequate and equitable access to vote early as required by law.

All registered voters have the right to accessible elections. On Election Day, polls are required to be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and if voters are in line before polls close, they must be allowed to vote. In addition, all registered voters have the right to vote free from coercion or intimidation, whether by election officials or any other person.

The OAG will receive and respond to election complaints relating to any of the statutes that OAG enforces, including the New York Voting Rights Act.

The OAG Election Protection Hotline is being coordinated by the Voting Rights Section, led by Section Chief Lindsay McKenzie, with Special Counsel Bethany Perskie, Assistant Attorneys General Edward Fenster, Derek Borchardt, Rebecca Culley, Martin Ascher, Roni Druks, and Jerry Vattamala, Senior Voting Rights Analysts Turquoise Baker and Jake Moore, Voting Rights Analysts Chris Chin, Chris Leaverton, Madison Buchholz, and Dena Li, and Legal Assistant Trainee 2 Lyric Landon. The Voting Rights Section is part of the Civil Rights Bureau, overseen by Bureau Chief Sandra Park and Deputy Bureau Chief Travis England. The Civil Rights Bureau is a part of the Division for Social Justice, which is overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Meghan Faux.