Voting Rights Action Bootcamp
Lesson 1 of 5
35 min

Week 1: Voting Rights Awareness & Quick Wins

Overview

Start your voting rights journey by registering new voters and exposing suppression tactics.

Key Takeaways

  • Register 5-10 new voters this week
  • Share history of Shelby County v. Holder gutting the Voting Rights Act
  • Document voter suppression tactics in your state
  • Educate people about voter ID laws and their discriminatory impact
  • Expose polling place closures and long lines in your community

Deep Dive

This week focuses on action and education. **Action 1: Register Voters** - Set up at grocery stores, transit hubs, or community events. Use online tools like Vote.org or Rock the Vote. Target communities with low registration rates. **Action 2: VRA Education** - Share how the 2013 Shelby County decision gutted the Voting Rights Act, allowing states to pass discriminatory voting laws. Post infographics and facts. **Action 3: Document Suppression** - Research your state: Are there voter ID requirements? Purges? Polling place closures? Long lines in Black/Latino neighborhoods? Document and expose this. **Action 4: Counter Disinformation** - When you hear "voter fraud" lies, counter with facts: Voter fraud is virtually nonexistent (0.0003% of votes), but 50 million eligible voters are unregistered. **Action 5: Check Your Own Registration** - Make sure your registration is current and encourage everyone you know to verify theirs at Vote.org.

Real-World Impact

Every voter you register is a potential vote for justice. By exposing suppression and educating your community, you build the political will to restore the Voting Rights Act.

Knowledge Check

What did the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision do?

Take Action

Knowledge without action is just information. Here are concrete steps you can take to advocate for this policy:

Medium

Register 10 New Voters

Set up voter registration table or go door-to-door. Use Vote.org or state forms. Target unregistered communities.

Hard

Document Voter Suppression in Your State

Research and expose: voter ID laws, purges, polling closures, long lines. Share findings publicly with data.