Right To Be is a proud partner of the Women Are Voting campaign. Women Are Voting is a coalition of nearly 50 national, state, and local organizations that are dedicated to providing women with the tools to claim our power as the strongest voting bloc in the country.
Voting is one of our most sacred freedoms — everyone should be able to cast a ballot safely, without barriers or threats. For most, the process of voting is a joyous and empowering experience, and we want to keep it that way. For that reason, we have created this resource to help make the process simple, and to make sure that you have the tools that you need to protect your freedom to vote if you face any barriers. We hope the information in this resource helps you feel as prepared as possible to cast your vote.
Make sure you have everything you need to vote by visiting the Vote 411 voting plan checklist, developed by Women Are Voting coalition member the League of Women Voters of the United States, and utilizing the resources below!
Voting is your right. Unfortunately, in recent years, there are increasing reports of this fundamental freedom being violated. In many states, new laws are creating barriers to voting. To protect you when you cast your ballot, visit Voto Latino’s resource Knowing Your Voting Rights before heading to the polls. You can also learn about your state’s voting laws, check your registration, and learn about what is on your ballot by visiting the Women Are Voting voting resources page and accessing the resources below.
When voting, be on the lookout, as you may experience or witness Voter Intimidation, Harassment, and Suppression. It might look like:
Know how to respond if this happens to you. First, remember it’s not your responsibility to have the perfect response. It’s their responsibility to not harass you. However, until harassment is no longer part of the human experience, we want to share our approach to how to respond if it happens to you. Here are our strategies:
You can report harassment to the election protection hotline:
Practice resilience. There is strength in recognizing that harassment hurts. Don’t shove it down and pretend it didn’t happen. Instead, take care of yourself and your communities. Resilience starts with you.
In the moment, remember: it’s not your responsibility to have the perfect response. It’s their responsibility not to harass others. Whatever choice you make — to respond or not — is the right choice, for you, in that moment.
After the fact, when you can get to a place where you feel safe enough to continue practicing resilience, here are some ideas:
Language Translation Support. Fun fact: the United States does not have an official language! Your right to vote is not affected by the language(s) you speak.
Bystander Intervention. Use bystander intervention as a way of supporting others in your community. As a bystander in action, you can reduce the immediate effects of disrespect/harassment; show the person who experienced it that they aren’t alone; and show others who witness your actions that disrespect, intimidation, and harassment aren’t tolerated here.
Key things to remember when intervening:
Now you are ready! Here are Right To Be’s 5Ds of Bystander Intervention:
When you use bystander intervention, you help others in your community feel more comfortable showing up, both to vote and to intervene when they witness intimidation or harassment. You are helping to create a culture of support and dignity for all to cast their votes, rather than fear-mongering, disinformation, or bullying.
Voting is your power. Voting is your freedom. We hope that the tools and resources provided in this guide help you feel confident and ready to cast your ballot. When we vote together, we are unstoppable.
This resource is a joint effort of the Women Are Voting coalition, spearheaded by Supermajority.
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