Lawyers Have The Power To Protect The Vote This Election Season
This election season, lawyers have the power to strengthen our democracy, secure our elections, and protect the right to vote
(Image Courtesy of We The Action)
In an election season that has been unlike any other, one major thing is certain: elections should always be free, fair, and safe. But in recent years, state legislators have passed a deluge of new laws restricting the to vote. In 29 states, voters will face 63 new restrictive voting laws that weren’t in place for the last presidential election.1
We’ve also seen unprecedented attacks on election officials and attempts to undermine faith in American democracy. In a recent survey of local election officials, thirty-eight percent reported fearing for the safety of their colleagues.2
These challenges are a call to action. This election season, lawyers have the power to strengthen our democracy, secure our elections, and protect the right to vote.
That’s why I’m proud to lead We The Action, a nonpartisan initiative of Civic Nation dedicated to connecting volunteer lawyers with nonprofit organizations that help people access democracy and justice. Our community of more than 48,000 volunteer lawyers defend the right to vote, advocate for reproductive justice, support immigrant communities, and much more.
This election season, we’re mobilizing thousands of lawyers to volunteer for democracy and voter protection projects through our Voter Vanguard. These pro bono projects come directly from leading pro-democracy organizations at the national, state, and local levels, with something for every schedule and skill set.
There are countless ways for lawyers to protect democracy right now. Voter Vanguard lawyers staff hotlines to answer voter questions, monitor and audit polling locations, research state voting rights laws, represent election officials, and much more.
Already this year, more than 4,700 Voter Vanguard lawyers have donated $14 million in legal services to 40 organizations working to make the 2024 elections safe, secure, and accessible for every voter. We The Action volunteers are helping address and resolve instances of voter suppression and intimidation on-the-ground at polling locations. Recently, volunteers collaborated with the Florida Election Protection Coalition to monitor and resolve voting rights or election-related matters on the ground and to evaluate 45 polling locations for disability access. Volunteers also performed similar work as legal monitors in Georgia during their primary this spring.
In addition to working on the ground to protect the vote, We The Action has partnered with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law to mobilize thousands of lawyers to staff the 866-OUR-VOTE hotline, the largest nonpartisan voter protection campaign in the country. Since January, volunteers have already completed 3,600 shifts, donating over 14,000 hours to ensure every voter’s voice is heard at the polls. Lawyers can expand their knowledge of the law while volunteering with the hotline. For example, We The Action lawyer JoAnne Klabin has completed nearly 200 shifts since 2020, dedicating over 800 hours to assisting voters, supporting fellow hotline volunteers, and becoming the go-to expert on Hawaii’s laws. Reflecting on her role with the hotline, Joanne says “this work has allowed me to learn new facets of law and has given me the chance to act out a perfect combination of the values that [her father] passed on to me.”
Our work to increase access to democracy is not limited to presidential election years. Since 2020, We The Action has partnered with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, a 2023 Nobel Peace Prize nominee, to research individual cases to determine if a formerly incarcerated individual is eligible to have their voting rights restored. Since the start of our partnership, 500 WTA volunteers have researched over 60,000 individual cases for the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. This year, We The Action is expanding upon this work and partnering with organizations in Arizona and Tennessee to restore voting rights for returning citizens.
While we’ve done a lot already, this work is far from over. With the clock ticking toward Election Day, the next few weeks are critical. Thousands more lawyers are needed to serve as poll monitors, staff the Election Protection Hotline, and observe the official canvass.
Whatever your availability, experience level, or ZIP code, there’s an opportunity to make a difference – in person or from the comfort of your home. Check out our handy guide to critical election protection projects available for lawyers right now.
Get involved, and join us in defending our democracy.
1 https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/voting-laws-roundup-september-2024
2 https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/poll-election-officials-finds-concerns-about-safety-political
