All Voting is Local

"States must equip local election officials and law enforcement with the tools to understand their rights and obligations in the face of federal interference, including how to respond and coordinate. As we head into the 2026 elections and beyond, it’s important to remember: our elections are run by state and local officials — not the federal government. A recent piece from the Brennan Center for Justice lays out clear steps we can take to protect our democracy from efforts to interfere or make voting harder. We all have a role to play by supporting local election workers, staying informed, and getting involved in our communities. https://lnkd.in/en3kbjeF

Exciting news: our Executive Director Hannah Fried has been named to the #TIME100NEXT list in recognition of her advocacy and leadership in removing barriers to the ballot box to build a democracy that invites everyone in.

Our Wisconsin State Director Sam Liebert, MPA spoke with Votebeat about Wisconsin’s outdated and harmful ballot “drawdown” law, a practice that randomly removes ballots when counts don’t match. This nearly 200-year-old law has undermined public trust, faced constitutional scrutiny, and forced clerks to do the unthinkable: throw out valid ballots at random. As Sam put it, having to conduct a drawdown as a former election clerk was “gut-wrenching.” New legislation could finally end this broken practice and replace it with risk-limiting audits to ensure that votes are counted correctly, problems are detected early, and voter confidence is boosted. Learn more: t.co/FVuwar9mo6

We are proud to stand alongside nearly 600 nonprofit organizations to call for an end to threats against nonprofits, political violence, and the dangerous rise in political division. Nonprofit organizations play a vital role in strengthening democracy, serving communities, and protecting the rights of all people. Attacks on nonprofits and charities threaten that essential work happening everywhere across our country. Read the statement: https://lnkd.in/eKARfb4H

In honor of National Voter Registration Day, our Executive Director Hannah Fried wrote for TIME about something we can’t afford to ignore: the coordinated, nationwide effort to restrict access to the ballot box. This year alone, over 160 copycat voter suppression bills have been introduced in states across the country. These bills are often framed as technical tweaks or administrative changes, but behind the fine print lies a clear goal: to silence eligible voters and weaken our democracy. These state-level efforts echo broader federal attempts to silence the voices of voters, particularly voters of color. But there’s still time to fight back — by organizing, building coalitions, and supporting policies and election officials that protect the freedom to vote. On National Voter Registration Day, we are reminded of the power of our votes and voices. 📖 Read the full piece here: https://lnkd.in/eBYUVPP4

🗳️ Today is National Voter Registration Day! We're proud to celebrate the power of voters with Good Good Good and The Elevate Prize Foundation. Our democracy is strongest when everyone participates — and that starts with making sure you're registered to vote. Your voice matters and your vote shapes the leaders and policies that impact your community. ✅ Whether you're registering for the first time or double-checking your status, take just a few minutes today to ensure you're ready: https://www.vote.org/

Protecting voter access in Wisconsin means getting the balance right. Maintaining accurate voter rolls is important, but the recent removal of more than 192,000 names carries real risks — especially for renters, students, low-income voters, and communities of color, who move more often and may miss notices. Voter roll maintenance should never come at the expense of participation. That requires clear and accessible notice to voters, multiple options to confirm or update registration, adequate time before removals take place, and local officials leading the process, since they know their communities best. The principle is simple: no eligible voter should lose their right to vote because of administrative shortcuts. Efficiency matters, but it must always be balanced with Wisconsin’s constitutional commitment to broad participation in free and fair elections. https://lnkd.in/ePZSK8hz

All Voting is Local Nevada recently held our most extensive rural tour ever — visiting 8 rural counties across the state. Our team had great conversations with our dedicated rural county clerks about Nevada’s elections and how we can improve them every day. These conversations are crucial: rural communities are often left out of statewide election discussions, but their voices and experiences are just as essential to ensuring that every voter can make their voice count. 

The federal government is meddling with voter rolls again. DHS announced it will expand its SAVE database—a system never designed to track citizenship—to “verify” voter eligibility. Here’s the problem: - SAVE was built to check eligibility for public benefits, not elections. - Its data is outdated + inaccurate, wrongly flagging naturalized citizens + communities of color. - States like Florida, Georgia, and Ohio are already using it to mass-purge voters. - There’s no transparent way for voters to fix errors. These changes are a strategic attempt to silence voters and spread disinformation ahead of 2026 midterm elections and beyond. Read our new blog for more about the harmful impact of the federal government meddling in state voter rolls: https://lnkd.in/e6-KUJpE

Here are the facts: voting machines undergo extensive testing before each election to guarantee reliability and accuracy, and eliminating mail-in voting would strip away a reliable and safe method that millions rely on. Voting machines undergo extensive testing before each election to guarantee reliability and accuracy. Election officials from both parties work together to audit voting machines at every step to make sure votes are recorded correctly. And mail-in voting is an option that disabled voters, overseas voters, college students, and working voters rely on. Getting rid of voting machines and mail-in voting would only hurt our democracy and silence eligible voters. https://lnkd.in/eNRrHrcv