Elections can make for tense times even in “normal” years—and it's been a while since we've had a normal year. In addition to the the COVID-19 pandemic, the country is also experiencing a rise in white supremacy, and with it the threat of politically motivated violence. Many people in the U.S. are concerned about the future of our democracy.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help protect the integrity of our elections.
1. Pledge to protect our democracy.
Election integrity is at the heart of any democracy–and it is up to all of us to protect and enhance it! The experience of people in other countries who have successfully countered election violence has shown that widespread public commitment to election integrity can make a difference.
Make your commitment to democracy known by taking this pledge and sharing it with others.
2. Involve your public officials and community leaders.
One of the most effective ways we can protect our democracy is to mobilize as many influential people as possible to publicly call for integrity in our elections. Here are tips for organizing to convince leaders in your community to join the effort.
Determine who needs to be reached. Possibilities include members of Congress, governors, secretaries of state, attorneys general, and local election officials. You can make the same ask of other influential community members, including religious leaders, business executives, heads of community groups, or cultural figures.
Cast as broad a net as possible. The more diverse the array of voices joining in the call, the better.
Decide the most effective method to reach them. You can plan visits or phone calls with officials and/or their staff; social media campaigns, such as Twitter storms; or press conferences and media work.
Escalating tactics can include socially distanced picketing at offices or important locations; car caravans; or even sitting in at offices. Remember, what we want them to do is commit to calling for a clean election in which every vote counts–and doing so publicly.
