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Your Voting Rights are Important and Protected!

Although the 15th Amendment provided the right to vote for African-American males and the 19th Amendment extended voting rights to all American women, many African-American men and women were shut out of the political process by measures including literacy tests and poll taxes. In fact, some voters faced intimidation as severe as physical violence or murder.

Voting is how ordinary citizens are able to have a say in government and the right to vote was a hallmark of the modern civil rights movement because protesters recognized how important the vote was to their quality of life.

Get the facts and research the issues that matter most to you.

And remember to BE PREPARED TO VOTE.

Ten Things All Voters Need To Know Before Election Day (PDF)

Take these Steps so you are PREPARED TO VOTE in Your State

  1. Know Your Voter Registration Deadline!
  2. Verify that you are registered before the close of the voter registration deadline even if you think that you know the answer!
  3. Determine if you need to re register or update your address if you have moved since you last voted!
  4. If you have to vote absentee start the process early and know the deadline!
  5. Make sure you know the identification rules in your state!
  6. Know your polling place before Election Day! Check your voter registration card, call your local election office, or call 1-866-MYVOTE1!
  7. If your name is not on the poll list ask the workers to tell you your correct polling place before you cast any ballot!
  8. Know the paper ballots in your state. Election officials treat different ballots differently!
  9. Many states offer emergency ballots if machines are not operable! Don’t Leave!
  10. If you have a legal problem on Election Day call 1-866-OUR-VOTE!

LDF is focusing its resources on ten selected states because LDF has been historically or recently active in fulfilling the promise of equal voting rights for minorities in those states.  While our goal is to expand the Prepared to Vote program to other states where we work in future years, we will continue to provide assistance to voters across the country through our national partnerships.

LDF is a lead partner in the National Election Protection Coalition, which is working in additional states.  If you would like to access state specific information that is not available on the Prepared To Vote website at this time, please visit the National Election Protection website at  www.ncffe.org/VoterRegistration to learn more.