The Difference One Volunteer Can Make to Voters

The obstacles facing our democracy can seem insurmountable, but I wanted to share these stories of how Common Cause supporters are fighting back — and standing with us against voter suppression.

You see, just one person at the right place and with the right tools can make the difference for a voter — turning their Election Day experience into a success, and encouraging them to keep fighting for our civic values.

Here’s a story from Mary in Georgia:

There was one woman who did not know if she was registered, who had driven to the wrong poll location, and who also told me that all day people had been telling her that her efforts were a fool’s errand.

I encouraged her to not give up and she explicitly thanked me for my support and positivity. In the end, she had found her way to the right place and her vote counted.

In my volunteering experience, I found that voters felt overwhelmingly positive towards me in that I was there to help make sure their voice was heard, and to make the process easier on them should they run into confusion.

 

And Mary wasn’t alone this election: across the country, thousands of volunteers turned out to assist voters in their community. Thanks to our supporters, they were trained in the specific rules for their state, and could rely on state and national resources to solve larger problems for voters:

• Glenda in Indiana investigated a report of disruptive behavior and, thanks to election law training, made sure that voters weren’t being intimidated.
• Jenny in Texas fixed Curbside Voting signage on a windy Election Day, ensuring voters with disabilities could see where to pull up and exercise their right.
• Tammy in Connecticut went the extra mile — literally! — showing an unregistered voter the way to City Hall so they could get registered and cast a ballot.
• Maureen in Missouri stepped up for voters by alerting state legal resources, and ensuring a polling place offered Curbside Voting as required.
• Fred in Florida escorted elderly voters and voters with disabilities to election workers, ensuring they received the assistance they needed.

Even though Election Day is over, we’re already reviewing post-action reports and planning for the future — whether it’s in the scattered runoffs happening across the nation, or preparing for elections in 2023 and 2024.

And, of course, we’re looking to the fights ahead: arguing Moore v Harper in front of the Supreme Court in December, planning for state legislative sessions starting next year, and organizing against anti-voter restrictions at every level.

But before we get carried away with what’s next, it’s important to celebrate our successes — and know that even when the odds seem stacked against us, we can still make a difference for voters by working together.