While movement leaders recorded many successes in 2020, voter suppression continues to be a major concern in many states. In addition to protecting voting rights, our grantees are helping people fully participate in democracy. Recognizing the power of those often left behind by traditional political campaigns, they are reimagining the culture of voting and civic engagement.

We are fiercely committed to voter expansion, fair representation, and election security.

Long-Term Strategies and Capacity-Building to Fight Against Voter Suppression

Cloaking voter suppression measures as a means of protecting election integrity, 361 bills with restrictive provisions have been introduced in 47 statehouses. Texas leads the country with bills pending, followed by Georgia, and then Arizona. Movement leaders emphasize that post-election funding is scarce, slowing efforts to build necessary movement infrastructure and coalitions, deepen community relationships, and advocate for progressive policy. This is why our funding supports a long-term vision for communities that have been marginalized, expands the electorate, and removes barriers to participation so that everyone has a voice in our democracy.

Digital Voter Registration and Mobilization

Grantees have developed innovative digital mobilization campaigns that help engage first-time and BIPOC voters. They are changing how people register and mobilize under-represented communities using experimentation and knowledge-sharing. Groups like Voter Formation Project are contributing to a significant increase in registering and mobilizing Black women voters and creating new best practices for voter mobilization.

Curbing Disinformation

Disinformation bolsters voter suppression by targeting marginalized communities with misleading information on polling places, mail-in ballots, and registration and voting processes. Grantees are working to curb disinformation through policy, advocacy, and large-scale movement building. They are analyzing what messages influence people's information sources, embedding themselves into everyday online community groups to provide accurate information, and providing training and tools for groups on the ground that are battling misinformation.