Voter and poll worker exchanging a ballot during COVID-19, both wearing masks and gloves

Defending access to the ballot

Advancing voting rights.

Since the 1940s protecting the right to vote has been a core function of our work, through our litigation and advocacy efforts.

Black Voters on the Rise (BVOTR) covers the voting rights defender activities that were launched in advance of the 2020 election to ensure voting suppression practices designed to disenfranchise Black voters could be quickly identified and addressed. We monitor, track, and respond to voter suppression efforts in our targeted jurisdiction to protect the right to vote.

We know that voting at its core is a local function. So we connect local community partners with a resource team to combat suppressive measures using public exposure/media coverage, advocacy efforts with local actors/decisionmakers (e.g. calls, letters, petitions), and, if necessary, litigation.

Need to report voter suppression? 

Whether you’ve observed polling place changes, voter purges, long waits to vote, or faulty machines, we want to know. 

Report an issue to BVOTR

Prevent voter intimidation in your community

We Got Us: Community-Based Strategies for Preventing Voter Intimidation provides tools and resources for Black communities to develop their own approaches to address potential voter intimidation during the 2024 election cycle.

Download the toolkit