WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?
END VOTER SUPPRESSION • SUPPORT FAIR VOTER ENROLLMENT
Citizen participation (YOU) will turn this dark ship around.
This is only a partial list of organizations and media addressing voter suppression and fair elections. Engage with one or create your own.
DO SOMETHING. BE STRATEGIC!
ORGANIZATIONS
ROCK THE VOTE is a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to building the political power of young people. They’ve registered and turned out millions of young voters on campuses, in communities, and online, raising awareness and campaigning for issues that impact the lives of young people. Visit RockTheVote.org.
SPREAD THE VOTE helps voters get IDs ahead of Election Day. Voter ID laws in particular affect communities of color, the elderly, and new voters. This non-partisan organization helps people navigate state ID laws, can assist with application fees, and drives voters to the DMV to get an ID.Visit SpreadTheVote.org
FAIR FIGHT Stacey Abrams and Fair Fight bring awareness to the public on election reform, advocates for election reform at all levels, and engages in other voter education programs and communications. Fair Fight Action engages in voter mobilization and education activities and advocates for progressive issues; in addition, Fair Fight Action has significant programs to combat voter suppression in Georgia and nationally. Visit FairFight.com
COMMON CAUSE puts pressure on decision makers to modernize elections, making them more fair, secure, and accessible with automatic voter registration laws and same-day registration at polling places on Election Day. They work for security and fairness at the ballot box by demanding paper back-ups and post-election risk-limiting audits to detect foul play early. Visit CommonCause.org and ProtectTheVote.net.
THE NEW CONVERSATION INITIATIVE changes voters’ minds with conversation. This method lastingly reduces prejudice, inoculates people against fear-messaging, and changes hearts and minds on many of our society’s tough and divisive issues. They use deep canvassing, a voter contact model where canvassers prioritize non-judgmentally inviting a voter to open up about their real, conflicted feelings on an issue. The canvasser and the voter work to create mutual understanding grounded in lived experience, instead of in debate or talking points. Visit newconvo.org/what-is-deep-canvassing
VOTING RIGHTS ALLIANCE is a network of organizations, activists, and legislators working to restore and protect voting rights, access to the polls, and fair counting of votes. Partners include: National Election Defense Coalition • Hip Hop Caucus • Moms Rising • National Organization for Women • Latinos United for Change • Justice Action Mobilization Network • Color of Change • African American Policy Forum • Rainbow PUSH CoalitionVisit VotingRightsAlliance.org
ELECTION PROTECTION Election Protection – led by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law – is the nation’s largest non-partisan voter protection coalition. They currently recruit volunteers in the states where they live to help voters in 2020 and beyond. If you are a lawyer, paralegal, law student or other legal professional you can sign up to volunteer with Election Protection.Visit electionprotection.wetheaction.org
BOOKS / MEDIA
DOES MY VOICE COUNT hosts free presentations and photo exhibits on voter suppression prior to the 1965 Voting Rights Act and the consequences after repeal of the Act’s key provisions in 2013. Jim Lemkin, who documented and helped register black voters in Mississippi in 1965 inspires audiences —especially young and discouraged voters —to appreciate the power of their vote to effect change. Highly relevant in schools, colleges, libraries, general audiences, public spaces, etc.