Every Voter. Every Vote. Every Election.
DEMOCRACY DOESN’T DEFEND ITSELF
Every eligible voter should be able to cast a ballot and have it counted. But across the country, voters are facing confusion, intimidation, disinformation, registration problems and other attacks on their freedom to vote.
BECOME A DEMOCRACY DEFENDER
Democracy Defenders are AFT members who commit to helping voters get the information, support and protection they need to cast their ballots and have them counted.
This work starts with you, but it grows through your local. Sign up today, then invite 10 members of your local and your friends and family to become Democracy Defenders with you.
WHAT DEMOCRACY DEFENDERS DO
ACTIVATE members and neighbors to register, check their registration, vote early, vote by mail and make a plan to cast their ballots.
ORGANIZE your local to share accurate information, recruit volunteers and connect members with election protection actions.
PROTECT voters by helping them navigate problems, report intimidation and access trusted resources.
RECRUIT others in your local and your friends and family to join the AFT’s Democracy Defenders.
CONNECT with community partners and coalitions already doing this work.
STAY VISIBLE on Election Day and through the vote count.
GET TRAINED. GET READY. GET IN THE FIGHT.
SHOW UP. Join a virtual orientation to learn what voters are facing this year—and how Democracy Defenders can help protect the vote.
KNOW YOUR STATE. Get the rules, deadlines, risks and opportunities where you live and vote.
ORGANIZE YOUR PEOPLE. Get trained on the Empower organizing app and learn how to turn conversations into actions.
TAKE THE PLEDGE
Become a Democracy Defender. Then invite 10 people from your local to join you.
THIS IS HOW WE WIN
Bring people into action.
In 2024, nearly 90 million eligible voters stayed home.
Become a Democracy Defender, then ask 10 people from your local to join you.
Check your registration. Then check again.
Purges, errors and address changes can knock eligible voters off the rolls without warning.
Make registration checks a habit for yourself, your family, your local and your community.
Vote early.
Make your plan to vote and find an early voting location or ballot drop box near you.
Vote together.
Organize a local union voting day and go to the polls with your co-workers.
Treat Election Day like a civic holiday.
If you have already voted, spend Election Day helping others vote:
- Share accurate information from trusted sources.
- Triple your vote—call or text three people.
- Give rides to the polls.
- Become a poll worker or poll monitor.
Be present, visible and ready to help.
Stay in it until every vote is counted.
Counting votes can take days; Election Day is not results day.
Democracy Defenders stay in the fight. They counter the lies. They support ballot curing. The count isn’t over until it’s right.
TAKE THE PLEDGE
Become a Democracy Defender. Then invite 10 people from your local to join you.