Protected tens of thousands of voters from disfranchisement, intimidation, suppression, and election manipulation, and secured new precedents around the Ku Klux Klan Act and the Voting Rights Act.
Protecting Free & Fair Elections
Our Work
Without free, fair, and secure elections, voters have no voice, little control over the direction of the country; and few ways to correct course when things go awry.
Elections are the linchpin of our democracy. Holding elections, and ensuring that power changes hands in accordance with their outcomes, is the essence of democratic self-government. By defending them, we also protect our rights and our system of government.
This takes two steps. First, we defend the process of holding elections. We do so by making sure election officials are allowed to do their work without interference; that election systems are secure; and that politicians are unable to dictate the outcome or manipulate election rules.
Second, we protect voters’ ability to participate meaningfully in the process, free from intimidation and harassment.
By ensuring that elections remain free, fair, and secure, we maintain our collective ability to shape the future of the country — or, when needed, to change course. In that, we protect voters’ trust in the results, even when their preferred candidates lose.
- Build secure, accessible, and accurate election systems and processes that are free from interference from foreign adversaries or domestic political actors.
- Create guardrails that ensure voters and candidates abide by the outcomes of every election.
- Foster public confidence in the fact that elections are free, fair, and secure.
Helped defend the 2020 and 2022 elections from attempts to manipulate and subvert a free and fair result, and assisted in the passage of reforms to the Electoral Count Act that will better protect the will of the voters and the transfer of presidential power.
SPOTLIGHT: The Shortlist Seven Ways Platforms Can Prepare for the U.S. 2024 Election SPOTLIGHT: The Shortlist
Unraveling the Rise of Mass Voter Challenges
How voter challenge laws are being abused to disrupt the election process.
June 17, 2024
National Task Force on Election Crises
The National Task Force on Election Crises is a diverse, non-partisan group of 50+ experts in election law and administration, national and cyber security, voting and civil rights, tech, and more.
February 9, 2023
Electoral Count Act (ECA)
The Electoral Count Act governs the way that electoral votes are cast and counted during presidential elections in the United States. The law includes vague, outdated language that must be updated.
December 23, 2022
Independent State Legislature Theory
Protect Democracy is leading research and analysis of the Independent State Legislature theory in order to inform litigants, the public, the media, and others about its potentially dire consequences.
October 31, 2022
Fighting Against Voter Intimidation
Voter intimidation today can take multiple forms. While we’re working hard against these worst-case scenarios, voters should have confidence in elections, and should not be afraid to cast their vote.
October 28, 2022
How to Protect Our Elections Officials
Protect Democracy is working to ensure that election officials can feel safe doing their jobs and that those who threaten them are held accountable.
October 25, 2022
Protecting Arizona Voters from Unlawful Intimidation
Protect Democracy sent a demand letter to those running the so-called election “audit” in Maricopa County which highlights the various laws that would likely be violated.
April 6, 2021