°Ä²Ê¿ª½±

Every election season, we witness the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement playing out in real time. From Jackson, Mississippi, to Selma, Alabama, to Atlanta, voters will make their voices heard across the Deep South on Election Day. In so many of our states, the right to vote continues to be a vital tool for the fight for equal rights and justice. We use it to honor the sacrifices of those who came before us and safeguard the future for those coming up after us.

In a world that urges us to focus on our divisions and remain in survival mode, casting a ballot is a powerful act of resistance and empowerment. With our votes, we have the power to elect the right people, from the president to local officials, who will help us shape policies, create economic opportunity, protect public education, secure health care and make progress on social justice.

As Election Day approaches, I want voters to remember that while there is no shortage of bad news or bad information, a small army of advocates, lawyers, volunteers and community members are working hard to ensure that every eligible voter can cast their ballot nationwide.

Let’s take Georgia, for example. We are working with our partners at , 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683), to answer voters’ questions quickly and accurately. If you call this national hotline, I may very well be one of the advocates who can answer your question. This is one of our most valuable resources as voters. Whether you have a question about your polling location, resolving an issue with an absentee ballot or confusion over ID requirements, the hotline is here to help with immediate assistance from trained volunteers and legal professionals. Do not be discouraged! There is no question too small for The Election Protection Hotline. Call now!

Other partners, like the , will ensure that there are enough volunteers to get voters to and from the polls if they need a ride. The team at the New Georgia Project is mobilizing voters to call and encouraging people to banks. Legal teams, like those with the , are working hard to file lawsuits to stop Georgia and other states from purging eligible voters.

, groups and volunteers have been instrumental in resisting voter suppression efforts and advocating for reforms that increase voter accessibility, particularly for communities of color and low-income voters. Like the °Ä²Ê¿ª½±, these organizations are active year-round, not just during election season, ensuring that changes in state voting laws do not disenfranchise eligible voters. This army of advocates is ready to assist voters facing barriers, such as long lines, misinformation or confusion about voting procedures.

In addition to advocacy groups and volunteers, voters now have access to various resources that make voting more accessible. Online platforms like Vote.org provide essential tools, including registration checks, polling location finders and guides on absentee voting. These platforms are critical in a state like Georgia, where voters may be navigating new rules around voter ID requirements or early voting. If you are in the Deep South, the °Ä²Ê¿ª½± has compiled resources in English and Spanish for voters as well under our new campaign, called The South’s Got Now | Decidimos, to encourage you to be a voter.

By working together in these efforts, we can ensure that every eligible voter has the opportunity to make their voice heard at the polls. Let us safeguard the hard-fought legacy of the Civil Rights Movement! Be a voter. We have your back.

Isabel Otero is the °Ä²Ê¿ª½±â€™s Georgia policy director.

Illustration at top by Lindsey Made This.