It’s National Voter Registration Day, which feels especially poignant this year. Like you, the voter suppression efforts we’ve seen sweeping the country this year keep me up at night.

400 state-level voter suppression bills introduced. Eighteen states with new laws that restrict access to voting. And a federal government that has failed to pass the federal voting protections we need.

So how do we fight back? Remember the Groundwork playbook: Fund local organizers on the frontlines.

That’s exactly the strategy behind Give Us The Ballot, a new campaign Groundwork is helping launch alongside a group of incredible partners. Led by Martin Luther King III and Arndrea King, we are teaming up to channel funds to some of the best community organizers across the country – because we know they are the ones best equipped to lead this fight.

I’m proud to be a co-founder with Groundwork Project, joining leaders like John Legend, LaTosha Brown and Cliff Albright from Black Voters Matter, NBA star Russell Westbrook, and many more.

Find the full list of co-founders and learn more about the campaign by visiting www.giveustheballot.org.

 

Named after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech on Black voting rights from 1957, Give Us The Ballot is focused on funding key local organizers in the nationwide fight against voter suppression.

Whether they are in a position to pressure key votes like Joe Manchin, activate against the most egregious suppression efforts in State Houses across the country, or use their platform to keep the public engaged in this high-stakes fight: The groups we are supporting are in the trenches every day.

Learn more about how you can invest in the local organizers leading our voting rights movement at this moment.

You’ll see some important names on this list from Groundwork’s first partner states: Alabama,Mississippi & West Virginia, as well as an incredible slate of organizations across the country.

An investment in them is the single best investment you can make when it comes to stopping the GOP’s suppression spree in its tracks.

I hope you’ll consider marking today by taking a minute to join the campaign.

Joe

P.S. Learn more about Groundwork’s work with partners in AL, MS and WV, here.