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Unite & Rise for Voting Rights

On August 8, 2026, the League hosted a nationwide day of civic action in honor of the anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Leagues and partners led hundreds of activations across the country centered on increasing voter engagement, turnout, and education, with particular emphasis on young voters and community partnerships.

Get Involved From Afar

You can still Unite and Rise! In particular, we're asking folks to:

  1. Send a letter to your representatives on issues that matter, like voting rights, equality, and more!
  2. Check your voter registration to ensure you're prepared for the 2026 midterms!
  3. Spread the word about Unite and Rise and invite a friend to join the movement!

You can also promote the Day of Action, our virtual pep rally, and all digital activations using this social media toolkit!

Virtual Pep Rally: August 6

On August 6, we hosted a virtual pep rally in preparation for our day of action.

Five Hallmark Events

In addition to the hundreds of events nationwide, the League will hosted five hallmark events in the cities below in honor of their links to the history of the Voting Rights Act:

  • PHOENIX, AZ: Phoenix reflects the ongoing fight to ensure Native American and Latino voters have equal access to the ballot. This action was 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 was a call to protect and expand the VRA and to demand that our elected officials stand up against the rising wave of segregation.
League members holding a banner that says "Voting is People Power" and many "Unite and Rise" signs
  • ATLANTA, GA: As the heart of the modern Civil Rights Movement, Atlanta helped shape the struggle that led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act.
    • August 7: This action was a community celebration to connect with neighbors and learn more about civic work in this community.
    • August 8: This teach-in brought 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 combined 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 was an interactive teach-in and community outreach event that explored voting rights, redistricting, and barriers to participation faced by disabled voters and individuals impacted by incarceration.

Partners

We're proud to have partnered with a diverse coalition of women-led organizations. Below are just a few of our past and present partners.

AAUWABA American Booksellers AssociationAPA logoAdvocates for Trans EqualityAll Voting is Local logo
Black Voters Matter logo
Common CauseDeclaration for American Democracy logoDemocracy ForwardLambda Theta Alpha logoThe Leadership Conference Education Fund
LULAC logo
Mi familia en accionNCBW 100 logoNational Council of Jewish Women logoNational Partnership for New AmericansNews Literacy ProjectPlanned Parenthood Action Fund logoPublic Citizen 50 YearsREBUILD LogoRegister HerShe Should Run logoThe First Ask logoThird ActTransformative Justice Coalition
Logo for Voto Latino in red and blue
YWCA logo

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