Washington, D.C. – Today, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law convened two Election Protection Coalition press calls, bringing together multiracial coalition partners to provide real-time data and on-the-ground observances and as millions cast their ballots this Election Day.
This morning’s press call featured remarks from leaders from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Legal Defense Fund, Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute, NALEO Educational Fund, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and Engage Miami. You can watch the press call here.
Meanwhile, the second Election Day call included leaders from the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC), Asian Law Caucus, Arizona Faith Network, Promote the Vote Michigan, and Common Cause Minnesota. You can watch the press call here.
The Election Protection Coalition’s mission is to protect, advance, and defend the right to vote, especially for Black voters and other 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. So far, the hotline has received more than 38,000 calls this electoral cycle.
“Already, more than 57 million Americans have cast their ballots before Election Day, demonstrating the determination of voters across the country to make their voices heard. Today, millions more head to the polls and our 866-OUR-VOTE hotline volunteers, state partners, and legal teams are here to protect their fundamental right to shape their futures,” said Damon Hewitt, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “Every eligible voter deserves access to the ballot. Every barrier they face deserves our attention, and every voice matters. It shouldn’t take all that we do to make democracy work, but we’re here to make sure that it does.”
“Despite Callais and the resulting race to discriminate through racial gerrymandering, Black and Brown voters continue to show up in force. Their determination to participate is a powerful reminder that efforts to undermine representation do not diminish the importance of the voices they seek to silence,” said Shaylyn Cochran, Deputy Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
“Everything we’ve seen with Callais earlier this year — the continued attacks on voting rights — it’s not stopping people, particularly Black voters, from going to the polls and participating in our civic duty and participating in democracy as a whole,” said Dominik Whitehead, Chief of Field of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
“We have over 60 people here at our command center in Washington, D.C., tracking both disinformation and threats to the vote. We’re monitoring and working with our legal partners across the country to ensure that if we need to take legal action, we will be ready to do so and walk into court within the hour if needed,” said Juan Proaño, Chief Executive Officer of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).
“Voters in nine states are electing candidates today using new congressional maps in this midterm election that aim to subvert the will of voters of color. Black people are speaking out and saying, ‘We will not be quiet while you try to steal our political power,’” said Todd Cox, Associate Director-Counsel of the Legal Defense Fund.
“As the Honorable Barbara Jordan stated, what the people want is very simple. They want an America as good as promised. And Black, Latino, and all Texans are showing up to vote. On our part, the Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute, with our partners, has trained over 39 legal monitors, including Black attorneys, and 836 volunteers overall,” said Khanay Turner-Osborne, Esq., Executive Director of the Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute.
“This election has not been easy for our community. Many families are afraid because of immigration enforcement, and that fear reaches US citizens and mixed-status families as well. Eligible voters have the right to vote, and no one should be scared away,” said Erica Bernal-Martinez, Chief Executive Officer of NALEO Educational Fund.
“Through grassroots and election protection work, young people are playing an essential role in making our democracy more accessible and accountable. They’re not only registering their peers but also helping them create a plan or guide to vote and serving as poll monitors,” saidMonica Bustinza, Deputy Director of Engage Miami.
“Through 888-API-VOTE, we are able to handle hotline calls in 9 different Asian languages in addition to English. We’ve received approximately 1,000 calls in a number of different Asian languages, with all sorts of questions about how to vote. One of the important things for today is just to make sure that everyone trying to vote has the ability to do so,” said John Yang, President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC),
“California counts carefully, and so it may be a few weeks before some elections will be certified,” said Aarti Kohli, Executive Director of the Asian Law Caucus. We verify every signature and give voters the chance to fix their ballots. We will also monitor the ballot-counting. A slow count is not a sign that something is wrong. It means every vote is being taken seriously. We know this administration will keep coming after California. We know fear is their strategy, but showing up is ours. We will be ready.”
“Our message today has been simple. Every voter deserves to be heard, and no one should face unnecessary barriers to exercising their right to vote. We have over 900 peacekeepers and poll monitors throughout Arizona, and while we’ve seen challenges, things are moving ahead. We will continue moving ahead together,” said Rev. Dr. Katie Sexton Wood, Executive Director of the Arizona Faith Network.
“We’re excited to continue coordinating with all of our partners and volunteers across the state to ensure every eligible Michigander can cast a ballot and have it counted, free from intimidation and interference, because Michigan’s elections belong to Michigan voters,” said Mackenzie Walz, Election Protection Director of Promote the Vote Michigan.
“It has been one of the most impressive early voting turnouts for us here in Minnesota,” said Annastacia Belladonna, state director of Common Cause Minnesota. “983,558 Minnesotans have voted before today. That’s about 300,000 more than in 2022. These numbers represent historic groundwork, nonpartisan grassroots mobilization across the entire state, and making sure Minnesota voters were prepared.”
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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. The hotline program has about 3,000 legal professional volunteers available to assist voters on November 2 and November 3. Over 21,000 individuals across the U.S. were trained this year through the Election Protection coalition to be poll monitors.
