Empower your neighbors to vote 2019!

Want to empower American voters?

Do any or all of these actions!

Action 1: Empower future voters. 

Over 21 million Americans lack the ID they need to live full lives. Spread the Vote  assists members of our communities obtain the IDs they need for jobs, housing, health care, and, most importantly, identity. Spread the Vote’s Project ID initiative help citizens obtain IDs in states that require ID for voting. Thanks to AoCC subscribers who have already donated an incredible $15,942 this year (you rock!), we’re almost two-thirds of the way to our 2019 goal of helping 600 new voters (IDs cost an average of $40 each).
Donate: To Spread the Vote here. (This special link helps us tally our total combined impact.)

Action 2: Support fairer elections and voting expansion.

Call: Your two senators (look up).
Script: Hi. I’m from [ZIP], and I value fair and accessible voting. Stacking districts prevents fair representation in Congress. Now that H.R. 1 has passed in the House, can I count on [NAME] to support voting fairness as it moves to the Senate? Will [NAME] urge Senate Majority Leader McConnell to bring it to the floor for a vote?

Action 3: Support voting access for people with disabilities.

Call: Your one House rep (look up).
Script: Hi, I’m calling from [ZIP] because I believe all Americans have the right to participate in our democracy, yet nearly two-thirds of polling places fail to meet accessibility standards, and voter turnout has declined among people with disabilities. The Disability Voting Rights Act would mandate accessible polling places and allow voters with disabilities to vote by mail. Can I count on [NAME] to cosponsor H.R. 1573? Thank you.

Action 4:  Support automatic voter registration for all, including people with disabilities.
[h/t Brennan Center]

If you live in AL, AZ, AR, DE, FL, HI, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WI, or WY: Contact your two state legislators (look up).

Script: Hi, I’m a resident of [ZIP] and I’m calling because automatic voter registration (AVR) has been shown to increase voter registration, save taxpayer dollars, and increase the accuracy of voter rolls, regardless of a state’s size or partisan makeup. AVR also empowers citizens with disabilities to exercise their right to vote. Can I count on [NAME] to support AVR legislation in [STATE]? Thank you.

If you live in AK, CA, CO, CT, DC, GA, IL, ME, MD, MA, MI, NV, NJ, NM, OR, RI, UT, VT, WA, or WV: Your state (or district, in the case of Washington, DC) has already adopted some form of AVR. Donate to the Brennan Center here to fund their advocacy for AVR and other voting rights issues.

Action 5: Advocate for a simple, crucial solution to end vote hacking.

Write: Your state’s election official (look up) and two state legislators (look up).
Script: Dear [NAME], The outcome of the 2020 election hinges on whether U.S. voting systems are trustworthy. Hand-marked paper ballots (HMPBs) are the gold standard for election security. While some congressional leaders and for-profit voting tech companies insist that high-tech alternatives to hand-marked paper ballots are safe from hacking, they are not. [STATE’s] voters must be able to hand-mark their ballots (with accommodations for disabled people) and be able to verify their vote is counted. I look forward to hearing from you about how you plan to ensure [STATE] implements HMPBs well before the 2020 presidential election. Thank you.
Note: If your state already uses HMPBs, share how important it is to have HMPBs *and* to keep them.

Action 6: Support congressional representation for all Americans.
[h/t 51stDC]

Call: Your one House rep and two senators (look up).
Script: Hi. I’m from [ZIP], calling to encourage [NAME] to co-sponsor legislation that would give DC residents a voice in Congress. Every taxpaying citizen should have the right to elect people to represent their values. Can I count on [NAME] to support H.R. 51/S. 631? [If not, inquire about reasoning.]

Action 7: Help election officials better serve voters in their communities. [h/t TheElectionBuzz]

Contact: Your state elections official (look up).
Script: Hi. I’m from [TOWN, STATE], writing to share a free resource that will help you and your staff to increase voter participation. Districts around the country have used the tools, templates, and webinars at ElectionTools.org to estimate polling place needs, create pocket guides for voters, and prevent long wait times on election day. I urge you to use these tools to encourage voter engagement for the best possible participation in 2020. Thank you.

Action 8a: Support ranked-choice voting in your state and local elections.
[h/t FairVote.org]

If you live in MA, MN, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OR, or VT, your state has introduced RCV legislation. Contact your two state legislators (look up).
Script: Hi, I’m a constituent from [ZIP], concerned about how [STATE]’s elections can be truly representative. Ranked-choice voting, or RCV, guarantees that the winner of an election always gets a majority of the popular vote, instead of merely a plurality. Jurisdictions that use RCV are already saving taxpayers money and strengthening underrepresented communities. I am asking you to support the pending RCV legislation in [STATE]. Thank you.
If you live in any other state: Make a tax-deductible donation to FairVote.org.

Action 8b: Support fairer congressional elections with ranked-choice voting. [h/t FairVote.org]

Call: Your one House rep (look up).
Script: Hi, I’m a constituent from [ZIP], and I believe congressional elections would be fairer if they used ranked-choice voting. The Ranked Choice Voting Act would encourage civil campaigning and increase voters’ trust in elections. Can I count on [NAME] to cosponsor H.R. 4464? Thank you.
Bonus: Contact your two senators (look up) to ask them to introduce companion legislation to H.R. 4464 in the Senate.

Action 9: Support equal representation in presidential elections.
[h/t Equal Votes]

EqualVotes.us has filed lawsuits to oppose states’ winner-take-all method of allocating electoral college votes. Forty-eight states give all of their electoral college votes to the winner of their popular vote. This is undemocratic and does not represent the will of the people. To change the way electoral votes are distributed, EqualVotes.us will appeal all the way to the Supreme Court.

Donate: To EqualVotes.us

Action 10: End the practice of drawing district lines that alienate voters.
[h/t Brennan Center]

Call: If you don’t live in AK, AZ, CA, CO, ID, MI, MT, or WA, write your two state legislators (look up).

Script: Hi. I’m from [ZIP] and I’m writing about gerrymandering. My concern is that districts drawn by legislatures discourage competition, protect incumbents, and alienate constituents. I want gerrymandering to end. Can you tell me what you are doing to support independent commissions to oversee redistricting?

Bonus: If you do live in AK, AZ, CA, CO, ID, MI, MT, or WA, write your two state legislators (look up) to thank them for ensuring that your voice is heard by using independent commissions for redistricting.

Action 11: Empower returning citizens federally with the right to vote.
[h/t Brennan Center, Sentencing Project]

Call: Your one House rep and two senators (look up).
Script: Hi. I’m from [ZIP] and I’m calling to express my concern that people who have served a prison sentence are excluded from electing their own representatives. States vary in their approach to voting rights, leaving millions of Americans, including more than 1 in every 10 African American men, without the right to vote. I would like [NAME] to co-sponsor the Democracy Restoration Act (H.R. 196/S. 1068), which would give returning citizens the right to vote in federal elections.

Action 12: Ensure that the winner of the popular vote also wins the Electoral College. [h/t National Popular Vote]

If you live in AK, AL, AR, AZ, FL, GA, IA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NV, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WV, or WY, Call: Your two state legislators (look up).

Script: Hi, I live in [ZIP] and I’m calling because I believe every vote in the 2020 Presidential election should count, not just the votes in a few so-called battleground states. If enough states join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC), the candidate who receives the most votes across all 50 states would be guaranteed to win the Electoral College. Can I count on [NAME] to advocate for [STATE] being the next state to join the NPVIC?

If you live in CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, HI, IL, MA, MD, NJ, NM, NY, OR, RI, VT, or WA, your state is already a member of the NPVIC. Donate to National Popular vote here to support their work nationwide.

Action 13: Urge your state to spend its election security money.

Call: Or write your state elections official (look up).
Script: Hi. I’m a resident of [STATE] and am calling/writing to find out how and when your office will use Help America Vote Act funds to address national voting security concerns. Our priorities should be bolstering elections cybersecurity and using hand-marked paper ballots before November 2020. Can you say if these are your priorities and when your office will use the HAVA funds? Thank you.

Action 14: Support voter participation and oppose voter purges.
[h/t Indivisible]

Action A: If you live in AR, GA, ID, IN, KS, ME, MS, NC, NE, NH, OK, SD, or TN, your state uses Crosscheck exclusively.

Call: Your state-level voting official (look up).
Script: I am a resident of [TOWN] and I’m requesting that [STATE] become the next state to exit the Interstate Crosscheck System. Every month, more states leave due to Crosscheck’s history of purging legitimate voters and leaking citizens’ data—including social security numbers. Crosscheck has been found to be 99% inaccurate and jeopardizes an essential tenet of our democracy: the vote. Please support voter participation in [STATE] by switching to ERIC, the more secure, more accurate option. Thank you.

Action B: If you live in AL, AZ, IA, LA, MO, MI, NV, OH, SC, VA, or WV, your state uses both ERIC and Crosscheck.

Call: Your state-level voting official (look up).
Script: I am a resident of [TOWN] and I’m requesting that [STATE] leave the Interstate Crosscheck System. Even though it hasn’t run since 2017, citizen data—including social security numbers—is still vulnerable to leaking and discriminatory purging from voter rolls. Please support security and voter participation in [STATE] by switching exclusively to ERIC. Thank you.

Action C: If you live in any other state, write your state-level voting official (look up) and thank them for not using Crosscheck.

Action 15: Empower more people to vote.

Call: Or write your one House rep and two senators (look up).
Script: Hi. I’m from [ZIP] and I value voting as a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. A Pew Center report shows that a majority of both Republicans and Democrats support automatic voter registration, same-day voter registration, an election day holiday, and restoring the vote to returning citizens. To support expanding voting participation, I would like [NAME] to co-sponsor the Voter Empowerment Act of 2019 (S. 549/H.R. 1275).
Bonus: If either of your senators is on the Senate committee on Rules and Administration, ask them to vote for the bill and encourage the committee chair (Roy Blunt, R-MO) to advance it.

Action 16: Advocate for paid time off for voting.
[h/t Election Day]

Write: Your employer.
Script: Many Americans decide not to participate in elections due to the economic hardship of unpaid time off, and state laws vary widely when it comes to getting time off to vote. The private sector can play a role in increasing voter turnout. I invite [COMPANY]’s leadership to allow employees paid time off to vote on Election Day. ElectionDay.org offers great resources to support this process. Thank you for considering this opportunity to support democracy.

Action 17a: Support voting by mail nationwide.

Call: Your one House rep and two senators (look up).
Script: Hi. I’m from [ZIP], calling to express support for the vote-by-mail system that states like Oregon and Washington enjoy. Voting by mail gives voters time to make informed choices, reduces the expense of operating polling places, and increases security and voter participation. To expand vote by mail nationally, I would like [NAME] to cosponsor the Vote By Mail Act of 2019 (S. 26/H.R. 92).
Bonus: If your rep is on the House committees for House Administration or Oversight & Reform, ask them to vote for the bill and urge the committee chair to advance it.

Action 17b: Advocate for voting by mail in your state’s elections. [h/t National Vote at Home Institute]

Call: If you DON’T live in CO, HI, OR, UT, or WA: Your two state legislators (look up).
Script: Hi. I’m from [ZIP], calling to express my support for all-mail elections. Voting by mail gives voters time to make informed choices, reduces the expense of operating polling places, and increases security and voter participation. Can I count on [NAME] to support vote-by-mail legislation? Thank you.
Bonus: If you DO live in CO, HI, OR, UT, or WA, your state already holds elections by mail (or will by the 2020 primary). Donate to VoteatHome.org here to support vote-by-mail efforts nationwide.

Action 18: Empower citizens of all backgrounds to participate in voting.

Write: Or email your state-level voting official (look up).
Script: The Voting Rights Act requires that jurisdictions with significant communities of people whose first language is not English be provided ballot information, instructions, and voting support in their language. Even if communities in [STATE] are below the required threshold of 5% or 10,000 voters, I urge you to proactively welcome all voters to the polls with familiar-language ballots and instructions. Thank you in advance for your reply.
Bonus: Use the script above to write a letter to the editor of your local paper.

Action 19: Advocate for secure elections at the federal level.

Call: Or write your one House rep and two senators (look up).
Script: Hi. I’m from [ZIP] and want our elections protected from digital attacks. We need to be able to trust in the fairness of our elections and the accuracy of the results. I would like [NAME] to co-sponsor the Election Security Act of 2019 (S. 1540/H.R. 2660).

Action 20: Bolster your state’s election security. [h/t Verified Voting]

Call: Or write your state election official (look up).
Script: Hi. I’m a resident of [state] and am calling/writing to support efforts to prevent security breaches in our voting systems. I’d like to know whether [state] has these three features that make my vote safer?

1. Hand-marked paper ballots.
2. Voting machines with a voter-verifiable paper record and that are free of wireless connectivity prevent fraud and vote manipulation
3. Post-election tabulation audits which verify that vote-counting computers are accurately recording and counting the votes.

If not, I urge [name] to resolve these vulnerabilities. Thank you for your time.

Action 21: Support the drawing of fair electoral maps [h/t League of Women Voters]

The nonpartisan League of Women Voters protects voting rights by mounting legal challenges to gerrymandered district maps and working to establish independent redistricting commissions in states across the country, including North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Ohio.
Donate to the League of Women Voters Education Fund

Bonus: Share this link with any American.

Is our nation ready for the 2020 election?
https://americansofconscience.com/empowering-voters/

Bonus: Share this link with any American.

Voting is a democratic freedom that must be protected. https://americansofconscience.com/empowering-voters/

Bonus: Share this link with any American.

Invite even people of a different party than you to complete these actions. Voting is a democratic freedom, not a partisan action. https://americansofconscience.com/empowering-voters/

Note: The AoCC team will add voter empowerment actions to this page through 2019. Be sure to subscribe to the AoCC Checklist for updates.