On Voting Rights Act Anniversary, Michelle Obama’s When We All Vote Rolls Out New Resources and Tools for Voters Ahead of the General Election

For Immediate Release
Thursday, August 6, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Voter Resources Hub & Know Your Rights Page Will Help Voters Make a Plan to Vote in Person or by Mail this November. 

Washington, DC: Today, on the 55th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, When We All Vote launched the Voter Resources Hub and Know Your Rights page to combat voter suppression. The Resources Hub provides new tools for voters to check their voter registration status and pledge to vote. In the coming weeks, eligible voters will be able to use the Resources Hub to request their mail-in ballots, locate their polling places and prepare to vote by viewing their ballot and researching candidates, referendums and ballot initiatives before Election Day. 

“When We All Vote is on a mission to increase participation in every election and close the race and age gaps in voting. In order to do that we need to give Americans every resource possible to help create confident voters and empower every American to make their voices heard this November and beyond,” said Stephanie Young, When We All Vote’s Chief Officer of Culture, Communications and Media Partnerships.  

When We All Vote is committed to providing the information and resources voters needed to safely exercise their right to vote in November. As the country reflects on the Voting Rights Act and the long fight against voter suppression, it’s imperative to provide all of the tools necessary to create a more informed electorate prepared to combat barriers to the polls by making a plan to vote either early, by mail, or on Election Day. 

To commemorate the anniversary of the Voting Rights Act and the life of Representative John Lewis, When We All Vote released a video about the history of this landmark legislation and will host an Action Call with volunteers about the work that needs to be done to ensure every eligible voter has equal access to the ballot box.  When We All Vote Ambassador and actress Samira Wiley from “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Orange is the New Black” will join the call along with voting rights experts from the Brennan Center for Justice and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights. 

Participants and volunteers will be urged to take action to combat voter suppression, and to support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the HEROES Act to ensure safe and fair elections this fall.

With less than 100 days until the General Election, When We All Vote is committed to combating voter suppression and helping voters cast their ballots safely. The organization has already worked to register more than 130,000 new voters, and has trained more than 21,000 volunteer leaders to serve as Voting Squad Captains, taking a leading role in educating their communities on registering to vote and their options to cast their ballots.

Press interested in attending the Voting Rights Action call should email [email protected]

Individuals interested in learning more about protecting voting rights and combating voter suppression can RSVP to the Thursday evening call.

ABOUT When We All Vote:
When We All Vote is a national, nonpartisan nonprofit that brings together citizens, institutions, brands, and organizations to increase participation in every election. Launched by Michelle Obama, the organization is committed to closing the race and age voting gap and empowering all eligible voters to cast their ballot by harnessing grassroots energy, establishing strategic partnerships, and implementing digital organizing strategies, with the ultimate goal of changing the culture around voting.

Michelle Obama is joined in this effort by fellow Co-Chairs Tom Hanks, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monáe, Chris Paul, Faith Hill, Selena Gomez, Liza Koshy, Megan Rapinoe, Shonda Rhimes, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kerry Washington, and Rita Wilson.

In the leadup to the 2018 Midterm Elections, When We All Vote organized over 2,500 local voter registration events across the country, engaged 200 million Americans online about the significance of voting, and texted nearly four million voters the resources to register and get out to vote.

In 2020, When We All Vote is helping to lead in voter education, registration and volunteer engagement. In response to COVID-19, When We All Vote is leading the fight for fair and safe elections by supporting the expansion of access to vote-by-mail, early in-person voting and online voter registration so every American can make their voices heard on Election Day.

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ABOUT When We All Vote: 

When We All Vote is a leading national, nonpartisan initiative on a mission to change the culture around voting and to increase participation in each and every election by helping to close the race and age gap. Created by Michelle Obama, When We All Vote brings together individuals, institutions, brands, and organizations to register new voters across the country and advance civic education for the entire family and voters of every age to build an informed and engaged electorate for today and generations to come. We empower our supporters and volunteers to take action through voting, advocating for their rights, and holding their elected officials accountable.

In 2020, When We All Vote ran a robust, multifaceted campaign and reached more than 100 million people to educate them about the voting process and get them registered and ready to vote. The initiative also led in voter education, registration, and volunteer engagement and as a result, 512,000 people started or completed the voter registration process, and nearly 500 media, corporate, and nonprofit partners joined its efforts.

Michelle Obama launched When We All Vote in 2018 and is joined by fellow Co-Chairs Stephen Curry, Becky G, Selena Gomez, Tom Hanks, H.E.R., Liza Koshy, Jennifer Lopez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monáe, Chris Paul, Megan Rapinoe, Shonda Rhimes, Bretman Rock, Kerry Washington, and Rita Wilson. When We All Vote is an initiative of Civic Nation, a 501(c)(3) organization, and works with Civic Nation Action, a 501(c)(4). Learn more here.

ABOUT Civic Nation

Civic Nation is a nonprofit ecosystem for high-impact organizing and education initiatives working to build a more inclusive and equitable America. Civic Nation shifts culture, systems, and policy by bringing together individuals, grassroots organizers, industry leaders, and influencers to tackle some of our nation’s most pressing social challenges. Civic Nation is home to seven national initiatives and campaigns: ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, Change Collective, It’s On Us, Save On Clean Energy, We The Action, and When We All Vote. Learn more here.

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