As summer winds down, I know this fall’s elections are top of mind for many around the country, along with serious concerns about whether they will be executed fairly. We at the ACLU are right there with you.
Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy and the fundamental right upon which all our other civil liberties rest. Democracy thrives when all people can participate – that’s why the ACLU has a plan to keep power where it belongs: in the hands of voters.
With the help of our incredible community of members from all 50 states and beyond, we’re enacting our largest ever election safeguarding initiative to protect our right to vote and empower voters across the country to participate in our democracy.
$24.5 million invested. 80+ legal actions currently underway. 1 million volunteers being trained to protect elections in their communities. This is what democracy looks like.
Here’s a peek at our election safeguarding playbook:
- Empower people to vote. We’re making sure people have all the information they need to exercise their right to vote. This includes activating our Know Your Rights education campaign with in-person and virtual training across the country, especially in communities that are at the highest risk of disenfranchisement.
- Mobilize communities. Collective action is our strongest defense against election interference. We’re training 10,000 volunteers across the country to monitor polling sites and protect election results in their communities. We’ll be present in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., with six key states identified as needing extra protections.
- Challenge voter suppression in court. Our voting rights attorneys fight voter suppression year-round and are currently taking over 80 legal actions challenging discriminatory voting laws, racial discrimination in redistricting, attacks on mail voting and registration, and other efforts to undermine our elections.
- Prepare for absolutely anything. We’ve built responses to 25 different election threat scenarios and are activating our full 54-affiliate network of lawyers, policy experts, and organizers, with people on the ground in every state. We will be ready for any and all attacks that arise.
We are putting the full might of the ACLU behind this fight, and I am grateful to have you in it with us, Kendall.
This work is already well underway, but you will see these efforts ramping up as Election Day draws nearer – I promise we’ll keep you updated. Together we will ensure every eligible voter can vote, that ballots are fairly counted, that elections are properly certified, and that the will of voters is respected.
Thank you for being a part of this incredibly important work and for all you do to create a more perfect union for all.
Sincerely,
Anthony D. Romero
Pronouns: He, him, his
Executive Director, ACLU
American Civil Liberties Union
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10004, USA