Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, State Voices, the Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute, the Arab American Institute, Georgia Coalition for the Peoples’ Agenda, and the ACLU of Michigan provided national and local updates on early trends and what voters should expect heading into Election Day.
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law convened an Election Protection Coalition press call, bringing together multiracial coalitions to report on the final days of early voting and emerging trends, issues and priorities as it works to protect access to the ballot. The call included leaders from the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, State Voices, the Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute, the Arab American Institute, the Georgia Coalition for the Peoples’ Agenda, and the ACLU of Michigan.
“Over 37 million people have already voted, and several states have shattered early vote records and outpaced recent midterm elections, driven in large part by surging Black and Latino turnout,” said Camille Wimbish, National Director of Campaigns and Field Programs and Election Protection for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
She added: “This voter enthusiasm is encouraging, but it comes in the context of, and in response to, the very real threats to representation we’ve seen this year, including the devastating Callais decision and the redistricting blitz that took place across the country as a result. Voters are concerned and want to protect their power–and the Election Protection Coalition and our 866-OUR-VOTE hotline are their trusted source to connect voters with real-time information about their polling locations in multiple languages, and to protect and defend their right to vote beyond the election. Black communities and other communities of color have faced organized efforts to prevent full participation in our democracy since the country’s founding. And while the tactics may change, our commitment to this fight remains constant.”
Over the past year, voters have faced a historic onslaught of threats, including the Callais decision and gerrymandering of voters of color in Southern states. The country has also seen a record number of new restrictive voting laws, scrutiny around mail-in voting, voter data and investigations and arrests into alleged mass noncitizen voting. Now and through the election, the coalition will monitor for escalated suppressive tactics, including intimidation at the ballot box itself.
“In spite of the attacks on our rights and everything at stake in this election, we are mobilizing at the state and national level against the hostility from authoritarian efforts who seek to suppress and silence the voices of everyday people, said Bill Shiebler, Chief Strategy Officer at State Voices.
He added: “More than 41 million Americans have already voted, up 40% from just four years ago. In 12 states, mail ballot requests have already surpassed the number submitted at this point in 2022. Strong voter participation is one of our most powerful tools for pushing back against the growing authoritarianism that we’re seeing across the country. Every threat we’ve seen, from voter intimidation and purges to maps designed to dilute voting power, is aimed at making people believe their voices don’t matter or their votes won’t count. This is not an accident. It’s a strategy that counts on Black and Brown and young and working-class voters sitting this election out. But turnout beats authoritarianism, and we’re going to make this election too big to rig.”
“We the people did not always include the Black and Brown community of Texas in our country. Generations fought so that we would be included, especially in the work to include Texas as part of the Voting Rights Act,” said Khanay Turner-Osborne, Esq., Executive Director of the Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute.
Turner-Osborne added: “As of this week, more than 5 million Texans have already cast their votes. That’s already 26% of our recorded 19 million registered voters. My task for Texans is to keep making their plans and show up despite efforts to stop you. If you experience issues, please call 866-OUR-VOTE, and we will have people there to address your issue.”
Margaret Lowry, Chief of Staff at the American Arab Institute stated: “This election cycle, we’ve seen an alarming escalation in anti-Arab and anti-Muslim rhetoric, including from candidates and elected officials in states like Texas and Michigan–in fact, around 65% of Arab Americans reported personally experiencing discrimination. At the same time, we’re seeing a community determined to participate. Fifty-three percent said that the rising hateful anti-Arab and anti-Muslim attacks have made them more likely to participate politically. Ultimately, election protection is about more than responding to problems at the polls. It’s about ensuring that every eligible voter can participate freely and confidently, regardless of their background, the language they speak, or the political views they hold. No community should have to overcome hostility to prove that it belongs in order to exercise its right to vote. That’s what we’re working to protect on Tuesday.”
“This election, we have our work cut out for us, but we’ve never been more prepared,” said Jessica Ayoub, Deputy Political Director of the ACLU of Michigan.
She added: “Our work began during the off season, and we are actively working alongside 100 pro-voter organizations, county clerks and nonpartisan challengers to ensure every Michigander can cast their ballot, free from interference. This doesn’t end when the polls close on Tuesday, and we will not rest until January 3 when we can expect the 120th Congress to be seated.”
“Voting is a sacred right, which is why we’re a part of the ground game in Georgia, where we’ve trained over 700 volunteers to be at polling locations to assist voters throughout the state,” said Helen Butler, Executive Director of the Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda. “Over 2.3 million people have already voted in the state, and just yesterday, we reached our highest early voting turnout at 199K people. People want to exercise their right to vote, and we’re here to ensure that process is unhindered.”
The Election Protection Coalition’s mission is to protect, advance, and defend the right to vote, especially for communities of color. During the 2024 general election cycle, the hotline fielded 56,000 contacts, and over 175,000 people visited the 866ourvote.org website.
To access a link to the recording of the press conference, please click here.
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About the Election Protection Coalition
The national, nonpartisan Election Protection coalition works year-round to ensure that all voters have an equal opportunity to vote and have that vote count. Made up of more than 300 local, state and national partners, Election Protection uses a wide range of tools and activities to protect, advance, and defend the right to vote.
