WASHINGTON, DC — On Saturday, August 8, 2026, the League of Women Voters (LWV), together with hundreds of state and local Leagues and partners, will lead a nationwide “Unite & Rise for Voting Rights” Day of Action to mobilize voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Communities across the country will rally, organize, and take visible public action with one urgent message: in America, voters — not politicians — should decide the future of our democracy.
The Day of Action is a major milestone in the League's Unite and Rise 8.5 initiative, a nationwide effort to engage and mobilize 8.5 million voters by November 2026. The initiative launched in 2025, after the League declared that the United States was — and continues to be — in a Constitutional Crisis. Recent Supreme Court rulings on Birthright Citizenship, money in politics, and the dismantling of the Voting Rights Act, coupled with legislative efforts in Congress, underscore a simple truth: democracy only works when people show up to defend it. Learn more about these events and how to participate at lwv.org/riseforvotingrights.
"Democracy doesn't defend itself, people do," said Celina Stewart, chief executive officer for the League of Women Voters. "On August 8, communities across the country are coming together to send a clear message: our democracy belongs to the people. This Day of Action is more than a single day of events; it's a declaration that voters are organized, energized, and ready to protect the fundamental right that makes all others possible—the freedom to vote.”
The run-up to the nationwide Day of Action begins with a virtual National Pep Rally at 3 pm Eastern Time on August 6, bringing together League leaders, voting rights advocates, entertainers, and grassroots organizers. Together, they will celebrate and remind attendees of the power of collective action and equip them with the tools to mobilize their communities. Livestreamed at lwv.org/riseforvotingrights, the event will underscore that protecting democracy requires sustained civic participation—not just on Election Day, but every day.
"Recent court decisions have reminded us that our rights, our freedoms, and our democracy cannot be taken for granted," added Marcia Johnson, chief of activation and justice for the League of Women Voters. "The freedom to vote is foundational to all of us. That's why communities across the country are coming together on August 8 — to demonstrate that protecting democracy requires vigilance, participation, and collective action."
“This moment is about meeting people where they are — in their neighborhoods, at community events, and through trusted local leaders and partners,” said Jeanette Senecal, chief of civic learning and impact for the League of Women Voters. “The Unite & Rise for Voting Rights Day of Action is a chance for people across the country to turn concern into action and help their communities prepare for the elections ahead.”
On August 8, alongside hundreds of local events across the country, the League will host anchor events in five cities chosen for their deep connections to the history of the Voting Rights Act and the ongoing struggle to protect the freedom to vote.
- PHOENIX, AZ: Phoenix reflects the ongoing fight to ensure Native American and Latino voters have equal access to the ballot. This action will be a partnership between LWV, Tribal Communities, and Latino/a communities to document and highlight barriers to voting unique to their communities and how they can be addressed both presently and long-term.
BERKELEY, CA: The Bay Area's history—from the fight for birthright citizenship to the advancement of LGBTQ+ rights—reflects the ongoing work to build a more inclusive democracy. This action is a call to protect and expand the VRA and to demand that our elected officials stand up against the rising wave of segregation.
- ATLANTA, GA: As the heart of the modern Civil Rights Movement, Atlanta helped shape the struggle that led to passage of the Voting Rights Act.
- August 7: This action is a community celebration to connect with neighbors and learn more about civic work in this community.
August 8: This teach-in brings together veterans of the voting-rights and labor movements with the young organizers carrying the work forward.
DETROIT, MI: Detroit's history of Black civic leadership and organizing underscores the power of communities to expand access to the ballot. This action combines politics with poetry for an engaging, transformative day.
- PHILADELPHIA, PA: As the birthplace of American democracy, Philadelphia reflects the enduring responsibility to protect and expand access to the ballot. This action is an interactive teach-in and community outreach event that explores voting rights, redistricting, and barriers to participation faced by disabled voters and individuals impacted by incarceration.
Led by the League, the August 8 Unite & Rise for Voting Rights Day of Action is powered by a broad coalition of organizations committed to protecting democracy and expanding civic participation. National partners include American Association of University Women, American Booksellers Association, Black Voters Matter, Common Cause, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc., Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, LULAC, Mi Familia Vota, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., National Council of Jewish Women, Public Citizen, Register Her, She Should Run, Third Act, Voto Latino, and YWCA USA.
###