Voting rights are under attack.
We’re helping voters fight back.
The current situation around voting in the U.S. is anything but “business as usual.” Some politicians and their supporters are trying to limit who can vote to control the results of elections and hold onto power, and many people are expressing concern about the upcoming midterm elections.
Despite the current situation, voting rights experts are confident that there will be free and democratic elections in November. Here’s why: Elections are controlled locally and at the state level, not federally, in over 9,000 districts nationwide; many of the attacks on voting rights are blatantly unconstitutional; the courts remains open for business, and groups like ours are actively combatting efforts at voter suppression and election subversion; and anti-voter laws are, unsurprisingly, unpopular with voters.
Polls show that the majority of Americans—across the political spectrum—believe that every eligible American should be able to vote. Voting is how we express our power as citizens and have a say in the policies that impact our lives. Which is why voting in the upcoming elections is the best way for us to say, “Hands off our vote!”
But given the current electoral environment, it makes sense to take a little extra care in registering to vote, staying registered, voting, and making sure your vote counts. Here are some simple, practical, actionable things we can all do to ensure that our voices are heard and our votes count in November.
We will update this page as necessary to reflect changes in laws or regulations, new threats, or updated voter guidance.
Know the rules in your state and municipality around voting, registration, and ID requirements, so you know your options ahead of time and are prepared and aware of dates, deadlines, and the kinds of ID you need to vote.
After you vote, be vigilant about certification in your state or district.
For more information about voting in your state, including registration deadlines, early voting options, and more, see our voter guides.
All voters have the right to vote free of intimidation, including from law enforcement, military, and federal agents. It is illegal for anyone to try to or actually intimidate, threaten, or coerce someone who is voting or trying to vote, or someone who is helping a person to vote. By law, members of the military, state and local law enforcement, and federal agents, including ICE, may not intimidate or prevent a qualified voter from voting through force, threat, or other action. It doesn’t matter if the intimidation was deliberate, as long as the voter, or the voter’s helper, felt intimidated.
Beyond the federal laws against intimidation, it is also illegal for any person in the U.S. civil, military, or naval service to order troops or armed federal agents to any place where an election is held. By law, officers of the U.S. military may not interfere with the freedom of any election or the exercise of the right to vote in any state.
All voters have the right not to be discriminated against based on race, national origin, or disability.
All voters who need assistance because of a disability or inability to read and write in the language of the ballot may choose someone to help them to vote, as long as the person is not an agent/representative of the voter’s employer or union.
If you have questions or need assistance on-site, the best person to speak to is a local election worker. Poll workers are members of your community, and work for the municipal or county government rather than the federal government.
If you observe violations of these rules, Call 866-OUR-VOTE, the Election Protection hotline! You can even report anonymously. If you are voting in person, and you feel comfortable doing so, you can quietly report your concerns to an on-site poll worker. Do not approach, speak to, or engage a law enforcement officer.
For more information about your rights when voting in person, see our state-specific “Your Rights at the Polls” guides.
If you’re in line before your polling place closes, you have the right to vote, no matter how long the wait.
Voter ID requirements vary by state. Check ahead of time on your official state or local election website, so you arrive with the ID you need to vote. If you’re asked for more than your state requires, you can ask for help and still request a provisional ballot.
If possible, bring friends and family who are eligible citizen voters to the polls with you. When we exercise our rights together, we find the safety, joy, and collective power of community.
Make sure to identify the local election workers at your polling place. As stated above, poll workers are hardworking community members who work for the local or county government — not the federal government. They are often the best people to ask if you have questions or concerns while voting.
Remain calm and peaceful at all times in a polling place and its immediate vicinity. There are strict laws governing your behavior within what is called the “electioneering” perimeter. In some states, that can be anywhere within 600 feet from the door of the polling place. When you are that close to a polling place, it is especially important to remain calm and keep your distance from any conflict.
Never say that you have seen ICE or other federal agents at a polling place when you do not know for sure, and do not post about suspicious behavior on social media, which will cause panic. The truth is, you may not be able to visually identify law enforcement or federal agents by appearance alone. Additionally, sometimes poll workers call law enforcement for legitimate reasons.
If you suspect you are seeing a federal agent at your polling place, seek guidance from official election workers if you feel comfortable doing so, or call 866-OUR-VOTE
The hotline team is trained to respond to suspicious behavior of all kinds at polling places, and it has a volunteer network that can assess the situation and take appropriate actions.
If you feel safe doing so, tell an election worker what you have observed. In some cases, poll workers may have requested local law enforcement presence to support their election processes. What you are seeing may be entirely normal, and a poll worker can confirm if that is the case.
If there are verified instances of unlawful federal activity at polling places, voting rights advocates and trusted messengers will share the information online and elsewhere in a safe way.
A new U.S.P.S. rule that took effect on December 24, 2025, states that mail might not receive a postmark on the same day the Postal Service takes possession of it, i.e., the day you mail it.
Because election officials in many states qualify mail-in ballots based on the postmark date, this new rule causes problems for thousands of eligible voters who rely on mail-in ballots, putting them at risk for having their votes disqualified should their ballots be postmarked past the deadline—despite having mailed them prior to Election Day.
In 49 states and D.C., registering to vote is the first step in casting a ballot. Check out Fair Elections Center’s Voter Registration Drive Guides to find out how you can register your community to vote this election season.
Date last updated: July 28, 2026