WASHINGTON — The League of Women Voters today urged Americans nationwide to recognize and reject an escalating pattern of voter silencing, intimidation, and suppression as the country moves closer to the November midterm elections. From continued efforts to relitigate the 2020 election to raids on voting rights organizations and renewed efforts to force unnecessary voting restrictions into federal legislation, these attacks share the same goal: shrinking the electorate, undermining public trust, and making it harder for people to participate in our democracy.
“Trusted, nonpartisan organizations play a vital role in helping eligible Americans register and participate in our elections, and that work depends on well-trained volunteers who understand the law and serve their communities in good faith,” said Jen Miller, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio. “Voter registration training is essential to ensure both access and integrity in our system, and it must be supported, not stigmatized. Efforts to criminalize or cast suspicion on lawful, protected voter engagement activities risk deterring volunteers, confusing voters, and undermining the very participation our democracy depends on. We should be strengthening this work, not putting it at risk.”
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“While law enforcement should investigate any legitimate threat to national security or election integrity, actions that intimidate those who work so hard to organize for democracy raise grave concerns about their chilling effect on civil society,” said Celina Stewart, chief executive officer of the League of Women Voters. “It is imperative that lawful voter engagement work – a hallmark of our democracy – continue unimpeded. As voter registration and outreach efforts intensify, the sweeping action we saw last week in Ohio sends a message far beyond one organization: participate in democracy at your peril.”
Raids on voter registration organizations are especially troubling because they are part of a broader anti-voter pattern that includes attacks on civil society organizations, raids on election offices, and ongoing attacks on mail voting. These actions do not strengthen democracy or election security. They erode public trust and intimidate voters and the organizations working to ensure participation.
“For years, bad-faith actors have pushed false narratives about election fraud to justify attacks on voting rights,” said Dianna Wynn, president of the League of Women Voters. “What is happening now is even more dangerous because it extends intimidation beyond the workplace and into the homes of people who work at voting rights organizations. We cannot allow fear, disinformation, or political pressure to push voters or civic organizations out of the public square.”
The League is calling on voters and supporters across the country to speak out against intimidation and disinformation, and to take action now to protect their freedom to vote, which includes verifying their voter registration is up to date and making a plan to vote. In this moment, defending democracy means refusing to look away — and refusing to be silenced.
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