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September 22— National Voter Registration Day — is a nonpartisan civic holiday that celebrates the cornerstone of our democracy, the vote, by creating broad awareness of voter registration opportunities. In addition to providing information about voter registration and other resources
, the day is an appropriate occasion to underscore that the success of the American democratic experiment relies, at its core, on the rule of law and the right to vote. It is also an important opportunity to commemorate those who fought — and continue to fight — to ensure that all Americans can exercise the franchise.
Since the early days of the Civil Rights Movement, ADL has faithfully honored its mission to secure justice and fair treatment to all by fighting for universal suffrage and against voter suppression. It has always been clear that respect for basic democratic principles of liberty and equality is essential for any marginalized or vulnerable community to thrive, and in any democracy that starts with equal access to the ballot.
This year, against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the right to vote is once again at risk. In 2020, everyday issues and decisions — including whether to wait in crowded lines and rooms to vote, whether and how to vote early, and whether voting-by-mail will be easily accessible — take on added complexity. This is especially true for members of marginalized communities who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic due to longstanding and systemic racial inequities.
Meanwhile, the polarization of our society has left us vulnerable. Extremists within the U.S. are looking to exploit this moment to their own ends. They are constantly seeking ways to promote ideologies that are racist, antisemitic, misogynistic, homophobic, transphobic, Islamophobic, and/or anti-government. Social media enables their hate and conspiracy mongering, and leading tech companies have fallen disappointingly short when it comes to limiting or preventing the cesspool of misinformation
and bigotry prevalent on their platforms. In the past two national elections, we also saw foreign state actors and non-state actors take advantage of social media and other means in an attempt to exacerbate divisions and spread disinformation among the American electorate. Federal law enforcement and national security officials have already seen similar and even far more sophisticated attempts in this election.
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