Voting
The 14th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States provides, in part, that no State can "deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property..."
VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson. It outlawed the discriminatory voting practices adopted in many southern states after the Civil War, including literacy tests as a prerequisite to voting. This “act to enforce the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution” was signed into law to end the tremendous obstacles to voting, including poll taxes, literacy tests, and other bureaucratic restrictions to deny African Americans in the South the right to vote. They also risked harassment, intimidation, economic reprisals, and physical violence when they tried to register or vote.
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YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE
The Single Mother Advancement Project (THESMAP) works in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and the laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country. You have the right to vote. If anyone tries to stop you, call the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-687-8683. If you've already voted, remember that democracy takes time.
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GET OUT TO VOTE
VOTE.ORG is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan voting registration platform. The organization’s goal is to increase voting behavior. This is accomplished through cutting-edge voter tools, direct voter outreach, and by directly educating voters about election laws that may affect their right to vote. The organization exists to remove barriers that keep voters from making their voices heard
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BROWSE A RESOURCE
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION (ACLU). The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) champions constitutional liberties in the United States. The organization works to protect Americans’ constitutional rights and freedoms as set forth in the United States Constitution and its amendments. The ACLU works in three basic areas: freedom of expression, conscience, and association; due process of law; and equality under the law.
The American Civil Liberties Union also seeks to further particular aspects of civil liberties by affecting the outcome of specific legal cases in the courts. Since its founding the ACLU has initiated test cases as well as intervened in cases already in the courts. Thus, the organization may directly provide legal counsel in a case, or it may comment on the civil-liberties issues in a case by filing a “friend of the court” (amicus curiae) brief.
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BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE. The Brennan Center for Justice is part think tank, part public interest law firm, and part advocacy group. The organization is involved in issues such as opposing voter ID laws that it believes unduly restrict voter registration, and other barriers to registration and voting, and advocates for redistricting reform and campaign finance reform.
The Brennan Center's work is divided into three programs - Democracy, Justice, and Liberty & National Security. Past programs focused on criminal justice, poverty, and economic justice. The organization has focus on issues both at the national level in the United States and at the state and local levels of government. The Brennan Center opposes mass incarceration and produces research on causes of violent crime in the United States.
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PROTECT DEMOCRACY. Protect Democracy is a cross-ideological nonprofit group dedicated to defeating the authoritarian threat, building more resilient democratic institutions, and protecting our freedom and liberal democracy. The organization’s experts and advocates use litigation, legislative and communications strategies, technology, research, and analysis to stand up for free and fair elections, the rule of law, fact-based debate, and a better democracy for future generations.
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WHEN WE ALL VOTE. When We All Vote was launched in 2018 by First Lady Michelle Obama. The organization is a leading national, nonpartisan initiative on a mission to change the culture around voting and to increase participation in every election by helping to close the race and age gap. When We All Vote brings together individuals, institutions, brands, and organizations to register new voters across the country and advance civic education for the entire family and voters of every age to build an informed and engaged electorate for today and generations to come.
When We All Vote empowers its supporters and volunteers to act through voting, advocating for their rights, and holding their elected officials accountable. The organization also led in voter education, registration, and volunteer engagement. When We All Vote is supported by fellow Co-Chairs Stephen Curry, Becky G, Selena Gomez, Tom Hanks, H.E.R., Liza Koshy, Jennifer Lopez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monae, Chris Paul, Megan Rapinoe, Shonda Rhimes, Bretman Rock, Kerry Washington and Rita Wilson.
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