Organizing to Defend Democracy

Without courage, our democracy will not survive. To win a better life for ourselves and our neighbors, we must defend our votes. 

People’s Action Institute is working to ensure all our votes will count, and be counted. Our member groups are taking the lead to ensure the integrity and oversight of elections this year and beyond. 

We invite you to join us in Washington, D.C. on September 15, National Voter Registration Day, when more than 500 community leaders and organizers from across the Organizing Revival Networks (ORN) will come together for a day of action and election protection training. 

RSVP Today

Training

We have trained thousands of organizers from grassroots organizations in the best practices to defend our democracy. Many of these organizations have gone on to host their own trainings, using our free curriculum. Through the May Day Strong coalition’s Solidarity Schools, which unite the power of community groups with the strength of organized labor, these practices are now spreading nationwide to help an even greater number of people prepare to defend democracy.

Coaching

Our biweekly Organizer’s Guide to Election Protection webinars enable state-level organizers to share best practices and strategy to defend elections where they live, and effectively engage with local election authorities. 

Deep Canvassing

Democracy depends on ordinary people talking with one another about the issues that shape our lives Our Deep Canvass for Democracy program, part of the Hear America campaign with our Organizing Revival Networks partners, is helping host one million nonpartisan, deep-listening conversations with the multiracial working class to overcome deep divisions and build connections around underlying values. 

You can join our weekly phone banks from anywhere, and we provide all you need to practice compassionate curiosity and engage across differences. 

Coalitions

As part of the Organizing Revival Networks (ORN), May Day Strong (MDS) and  Elections Safeguard Response Network (ESRN), People’s Action is building the power we need on the ground to defend our votes.

What You Can Do

Download our election protection toolkit, join our Deep Canvass for Democracy weekly phone banks, and contact your local People’s Action Institute affiliate to join election protection efforts where you live.

Spotlight: Iowa

Iowa is at the epicenter of the fight to defend election integrity, and Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Action (CCI Action) have stepped up the challenge. As the lead on-the-ground organization for the Election Safeguards Response Network, CCI Action members are meeting with election auditors in all of Iowa’s 99 counties, equipping eligible voters with the information they need to successfully cast their ballots without intimidation or disinformation, and challenging the state’s highest election authority, Secretary of State Paul Pate, to ensure every eligible vote gets counted and is accurately reported.

“The determination, resiliency and courage of the American people, including Iowans, to defend free and democratic elections is being tested — and that’s why we are not backing down, because our democracy requires us to collectively raise our voice in its defense.”
— Cherie Mortise, Longtime CCI Action member