Voting rights are under attack, and Republican tactics to maintain power both federally and locally, such as voter suppression and voter disenfranchisement, are being used to deter many voters from the polls.
Over the past couple of years, North Carolina has seen multiple instances of voter suppression and disenfranchisement. For example, crucial voting sites at historically Black colleges and universities have been eliminated by the NC State Board of Elections, led by Republican state auditor Dave Boliek. Additionally, Republicans at the General Assembly have illegally redrawn congressional maps to push their conservative agenda. Federally, the Trump administration aims to interfere with election administration, restrict access to voting by mail, and confuse voters when it comes to casting their ballots.
In response to all of this, our friends at Common Cause have launched the nation’s largest nonpartisan voter protection effort that will mobilize thousands of trained volunteers and experts across the country to help voters navigate the voting process, including casting their ballots. Volunteers will receive 60 to 90 minutes of training regarding state voting laws, poll monitoring, and reporting on issues. In 2024, Common Cause recruited over 15,000 election protection volunteers!
“We are training volunteers on how to show up well at a polling location in your state, what are the rules about where you can stand, who you can talk to, what kind of support you can give to voters,” said Suzanne Almeida, Vice President of Common Cause.
The organization’s 2026 election protection work aims to:
- Monitor and respond to election misinformation and disinformation.
- Deploy thousands of trained, nonpartisan volunteers to assist voters and monitor polling places.
- Work with legal experts helping voters on the state’s premier nonpartisan voter hotline, owned and operated by Democracy NC:
- ENGLISH: 866-OUR-VOTE / 866-687-8683
- SPANISH: 888-VE-Y-VOTA / 888-839-8682
- ASIAN LANGUAGES: 888-API-VOTE/ 888-274-8683
- ARABIC: 844-YALLA-US / 844-925-5287
- Providing voters with reliable voting information (important deadlines, voting options, voting rights, etc.)
- Work directly with election officials to identify and resolve problems affecting voters in real time.
“The freedom to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, but far too many Americans continue to face deliberate barriers, confusion, and attempts to silence their voices, our nonpartisan Election Protection program is built to meet this moment, ensuring that every eligible voter — regardless of their zip code, party, or background — has the trusted support they need to make their voice heard with confidence. With thousands of trained volunteers on the ground and answering calls across the country, Common Cause is here to safeguard access to the ballot box, resolve voting issues in real time, and ensure that ‘We the People’ shape the future of our communities,” said Virginia Kase Solomón, President and CEO of Common Cause.
Additionally, Democracy NC has several ways for you to help protect elections, from being a poll worker to a voter protection hotline volunteer.
For additional information about nonpartisan voting information and resources, visit 866OurVote.org.
