BIRTHDAY: Let America Vote Celebrates One Year of Protecting Voting Rights

Let America Vote today celebrates the one-year anniversary of its founding on February 7, 2017. Let America Vote was started by Jason Kander, former Missouri Secretary of State, after Donald Trump’s victory in the 2016 election promised to endanger voting rights across the country.

“Let America Vote is off to a terrific start, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve accomplished so far,” said Jason Kander, President of Let America Vote. “We won some essential voting rights fights in the 2017 elections, but the upcoming November elections will be an even bigger challenge for those of us who want to ensure access to the ballot. The movement to create political consequences for politicians who suppress voters has become a national force, and we’re counting on everyone who believes in voting rights to do their part in 2018. Thank you to everyone who has supported this mission–we’re just getting started.”

Since its founding, Let America Vote has grown to a 24-person staff across six states and the District of Columbia. Over 70,000 voting rights advocates have signed up online to volunteer with Let America Vote.

In the 2017 election cycle, Let America Vote’s pilot field office in Manassas, Virginia knocked on over 194,000 doors while a small team in Manchester, New Hampshire knocked 9,400 doors in the final two weeks before the election to support Mayor Joyce Craig. Let America Vote helped flip seven seats and hold one seat in targeted Virginia legislative districts while helping elect Governor Ralph Northam.

Let America Vote played an integral role in building support to shut down President Trump’s sham voting commission. Let America Vote also helped fight voter suppression in the GA-06 special election by pressuring the DeKalb County Board of Registration and Election to reverse its decision to close early voting locations.

In 2018, Let America Vote is opening offices in five states–New Hampshire, Georgia, Iowa, Tennessee and Nevada–to deliver boots-on-the-ground support to voting rights champions running for local and state offices.