Friend, you probably share my disgust and worry about the multiple preventable failures in our voting systems during this year’s primary elections.
Missing absentee ballots... too few polling places to meet voter turnout... outdated voting machines. Plus, voters facing novel threats to their rights, like online disinformation and cynical politicians exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic to suppress votes.
The result? Hours-long waits at polling places. Confusion about where and how to vote. And thousands upon thousands of eligible voters denied their right to participate in our democracy.
I’m sure I’ve written you over and over with this warning, but it bears repeating: if we don’t step up our efforts immediately, we’ll see a repeat this November of the obstacles voters faced earlier this year in states like Georgia and Wisconsin.
That’s why right now, we’re launching our and reinforcing our Protect The Vote 2020 campaign -- our 50-state organizing, advocacy, and litigation initiative to make certain every voter can safely and securely vote this fall.
Here’s what success will look like: every eligible voter, Republican, Democrat, or Independent, gets to vote by mail if they want to. They receive their ballot on time, and can mail it back or drop it off securely, confident their vote was counted.
AND... if they don’t want to vote by mail, they can cast their ballot safely in person -- following public health and social distancing rules, without waiting in line for hours or worrying about unsecured machines.
Friend, it will take immense effort -- yours and mine -- to make sure we’re ready for November. We’ll need to keep at it every single day until Election Day -- and in the weeks and months after, too. But it’s work Common Cause is prepared to take on, provided we can count on your help.
So if you share my belief that every eligible voter deserves to be heard in this unprecedented, critically important election, then I want you to know the most effective way to make that happen is by becoming a Guardian for Democracy. You’d be joining a special group of Common Cause members who, with a small monthly contribution of $5, $15, or even $25, enable us to put in the day in, day out grassroots organizing it’ll take to succeed.
I hope you’ll maximize your impact by signing up as a Guardian for Democracy today -- and to say thank you for your commitment, if you sign up before July 31st, I’ll send you a free copy of Robert Reich’s latest book, “The System: Who Rigged It And How We Fix It.”
Sorry, I can't become a sustaining member at this time, but I’d still like to make a one-time gift to help where it’s needed most.
Remember, the real power in our democracy lies with the people, with the voters. And right now, thousands of Common Cause members are giving up their days, nights, and weekends through involvement with one of our 35 state-level groups -- led by committed advocates, with years of experience and relationships with election officials that will make a big difference for voters come November.
For example, in Georgia -- we’re sounding the alarm about what went wrong last month when voters were forced to wait in line for hours and hours. And, we’ve just helped stop a dangerous voter suppression bill in the Georgia legislature that would’ve made those problems even worse.
We blocked a similarly bad voting law in Ohio. But now, the legislature has adjourned for the summer without any proactive plan to protect voters this November -- leaving Common Cause Ohio and our Election Protection partners to fill the gap.
PLUS... after Pennsylvania voters were given too few polling places during the primary, we’re using every tool available -- legislation, litigation, and grassroots advocacy -- to make sure county boards of elections get the funding they need to run an open and fair election.
Holding a national election during a pandemic is an unprecedented challenge for our democracy. We’re up against partisan, political operatives -- the Republican National Committee has earmarked $20 million specifically to press forward on anti-voter litigation. And, the President of the United States is actively spreading misinformation about the reforms -- like vote-by-mail -- voters will be relying on in November.
That’s why Common Cause has dramatically increased the volume and scope of our plans for the 2020 election. Tens of millions of voters will be casting absentee ballots for the first time -- and our top priority is making sure America’s election systems are ready for them and able to accommodate safe, in-person voting.
To ensure we have the resources required to win, I’m asking you to step up today as a Guardian for Democracy -- part of a special group of Common Cause Members who’ve agreed to make the biggest impact they can with a monthly donation to sustain our work.
You’ll be making a major impact to help PROTECT the 2020 election -- and ensure it is conducted freely, fairly, and securely. Can we count on you? Sign up before July 31st and we'll send you a copy of Robert Reich's latest book.
Sorry, I can't become a sustaining member at this time, but I’d still like to make a one-time gift to help where it’s needed most.
Our right to vote is the foundation of our democracy -- and Common Cause fighting to ensure every eligible citizen can exercise it. That work has taken on new importance -- and met new challenges -- during this unprecedented election.
I am certain that with your help, we will prevail.
Thank you.
Karen Hobert Flynn, President
and the team at Common Cause
