THE ELECTION & THE DAYS/WEEKS FOLLOWING

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If you are aware of voter intimidation, please document and report it. To document, capture links and/or screenshots of activity you see online or videos and photos of activity you witness in person, if safely possible. To report voter intimidation:

·  Contact NAACP Legal Defense Fund through this form;

·  Use the nationwide, nonpartisan voter protection hotlines from the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights:

o  English: 866-OUR-VOTE

o  Spanish/English: 888-VE-Y-VOTA

o  Arabic/English: 844-YALLA-US 

o  Asian Languages/English: 888-API-VOTE

·  The ACLU advises reporting incidents to your local elections office;

If it’s in the Northwest and involves far-right groups, you can also give us a heads up at UAIDAHO@GMAIL.COM

As organizers and activists, we recognize the importance of aligning civil society and local government to prioritize a free and fair election. In this moment of extreme division, speaking clearly and collectively about our values is incredibly important. 

·  Paramilitary and alt-right activity poses a challenge to our values of inclusive democracy. These groups use threats, intimidation, and even violence to chill democratic practice, threaten community safety, and undermine civil society. But we won’t be intimidated.

·  We believe in a country that includes everyone, and protects the right of every person to live, love, work, and worship free from fear and bigotry. 

·  We value accountable democratic practice, and commit to working together to defend democracy and protect our democratic institutions.

·  We value human rights, human dignity, and human life, and those values are more important than our ideology.

This is an election like none before. Due to a high volume of vote-by-mail ballots, it is likely that we will not learn election results on Nov. 3rd.  It's okay. While there are those factions that will try to sow division and spread misinformation and doubt, the American people are committed to making sure every vote is counted and we have a fair and free election process.

In addition, intensifying far-right rhetoric creates concern that paramilitary groups may act out - whether in the period between a potential electoral loss and the inauguration, or in celebration of a Trump win that they may see as emboldening. This raises the possibility of an uncertain post-election period in which multiple extremist factions could attempt to exploit and heighten the chaotic situation to interfere with the count of every American vote. All these groups do is stoke fear, spread misinformation and use intimidation tactics - our democracy will withstand as it always has threats of domestic terrorism. 

Neither our votes nor our voices will be silenced. We will ensure every vote is counted, our elections are respected, and our votes honored. We will gather in communities across the United States in solidarity and in non-violent protest to demand that justice prevails. We will take action in ways that are designed to protect our safety and the safety of others. No matter what kind of action you take - Together, we will stand strong to defend and protect our democracy!

Please be vigilant, don't take unnecessary risks, make your safety and that of others a priority, participate with friends and groups you trust, do be distracted by the hateful noise or the attempts of others to muddle our message - And be loud and do all you can in this moment to stand up for justice!

The division that has played out over social media won't stop on Election Day, likely it will become more volatile - don't take the bait. Don't amplify the messages of hate. We suggest either ignoring posts or simply replying with "Democracy Will Win" and turning off the megaphone of those who are trying to spread chaos and misinformation.