Teachers Join Democracy Defenders

 

Every voter, regardless of party, should be able to trust that their ballot can be cast safely and will be counted fairly. Yet voters run into problems that shouldn’t happen: confusing rules, long lines, challenged mail ballots, polling-place disruptions and urgent questions that no one answers in time. We’re facing more challenges than ever this upcoming election, with mid-decade redistricting, challenges to vote-by-mail, and a constant assault on elections by the current occupant of the White House. Ten states have changed their congressional maps since last summer. And unfortunately politicians have used redistricting to tilt the playing field—choosing their voters instead of letting voters choose them.  These barriers should never stand between a voter, their ballot and their voice. That’s why the AFT is recruiting 5,000 Democracy Defenders nationwide. The first step is simple: Join us virtually for the Democracy Defenders kickoff, live on Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. EDT. The Supreme Court’s Callais decision this spring made things worse by gutting the Voting Rights Act, diluting Black voters’ power and limiting communities’ ability to elect representatives of their choice. And even though mail-in voting has been proven repeatedly to be safe and secure, sweeping changes have been made regarding how mail ballots are sent, tracked and tied to voter-eligibility lists. Those changes are already being fought in court, leaving voters and election officials facing even more uncertainty than usual.  That’s where we come in. Join us on Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. EDT and learn more about how you can become a Democracy Defender with the AFT. Democracy Defenders are AFT members and allies trained to protect the right to vote in their own communities—helping voters understand their options for casting a ballot early or by mail, watching for threats to voter access, connecting voters with election-protection resources, and making sure every eligible voter can vote and that every vote gets counted. You don’t need to be an elections expert to get involved. At the kickoff, we’ll walk you through the training, tools and support you need to protect the vote in your community. Whether you serve as a poll worker, drive neighbors to the polls or help voters find accurate information, every election depends on ordinary people like you stepping up to defend every voter’s right to be heard. That’s exactly what Democracy Defenders is all about. Join us on Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. EDT for the Democracy Defenders kickoff. In unity, Randi Weingarten AFT President More to come from Teachers Defending Democracy.  Follow this site.