WASHINGTON, DC — This past weekend, the League of Women Voters concluded its nationwide “Unite & Rise for Voting Rights” Day of Action, bringing together more than 6,600 people at nearly 400 community events in all 50 states and Washington, DC. Held on August 8 to mark the 61st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, this remarkable nationwide mobilization demonstrated the power that has been at the heart of the League’s work since its founding in 1920: that when people take action in their own communities, they change everyday life from the ground up. Across hundreds of locally led activations, voters came together with their neighbors to learn, organize, and build relationships, preparing to bring even more people into the democratic process this November as they reminded each other – and the nation – that democracy is not a spectator sport on “once-every-few-years" event.  

The mobilization kicked off on August 6 with a national Unite & Rise for Voting Rights Virtual Pep Rally to honor the 61st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. The Pep Rally saw nearly 2,000 participants register from across the country to recognize the power of collective action and recommit to the work ahead as they geared up for the hundreds of community activations taking place nationwide two days later. Together, the Unite & Rise for Voting Rights Pep Rally and Day of Action marked one of the League’s largest coordinated civic engagement efforts of the 2026 election cycle and a major milestone in its Unite & Rise 8.5 initiative to mobilize 8.5 million voters in defense of democracy.   

“The legacy of the Voting Rights Act lives on because people continue to fight for its promise,” said Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters. “This past weekend, communities across the nation proved that they refuse to let that promise be broken. From coast to coast, Americans showed up for one another and for the future of our democracy because they know the freedom to vote is worth protecting. We witnessed hope in action, neighbors becoming advocates, and ordinary people choosing courage over complacency. Democracy doesn't sustain itself; it endures because people are willing to defend it.”

Five anchor events in Atlanta, Berkeley, Detroit, Philadelphia, and Phoenix offered a snapshot of the hundreds of community-driven actions taking place nationwide: 

In Atlanta, community members joined the League over two days of events that combined community, culture, and organizing. Friday’s family-friendly Community Kickback brought together community partners and local activists. On Saturday, an intergenerational teach-in brought advocates together to examine Georgia’s voting rights landscape, share personal experiences with voter suppression and civic participation, and participate in a relational organizing workshop focused on engaging their communities ahead of November. 

In Berkeley, students, community members, and local government officials came together for intergenerational conversations about voting rights, civic participation, and the role everyone can play in strengthening democracy. A youth-led Civic Action Workshop was a hands-on learning exercise in self-governance and grassroots civic participation, demonstrating that democracy is built well before the ballot box through everyday engagement in civic life.  

In Detroit, community activists and League leaders gathered for “Poetry and Politics,” featuring Detroit Poet Laureate Jessica Care Moore alongside local artists. Through poetry, conversation, and creative expression, participants explored the connection between art and civic action and their shared responsibility to turn out voters and protect democracy this November. 

In Philadelphia, participants joined a two-hour voting rights teach-in with state and local League leaders and community partners. Participants turned learning into action by writing postcards to 200 high-opportunity voters, encouraging more Philadelphians to make their voices heard in the upcoming election. 

In Phoenix, Latino and Native American community members participated in statewide listening circles, sharing firsthand experiences with voting and civic participation and identifying ongoing barriers to the ballot. The conversations centered the voices of communities directly impacted by those barriers and explored ways to strengthen voting access and participation across Arizona. 

The Day of Action was powered by a broad coalition of national, state, and local partners. The League’s Unite & Rise grassroots partners — American Association of University Women (AAUW), National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), and YWCA USA — joined organizations across the country in mobilizing their communities and helping turn the day into a nationwide demonstration of civic participation. 

National Day of Action partners included 1,000 Women Strong, Advocates for Trans Equality, All Voting is Local, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., American Booksellers Association, Black Voters Matter, Common Cause, Declaration for American Democracy, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Democracy Forward, EveryLibrary, Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc., League of United Latin American Citizens, Mi Familia en Acción, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, National Education Association, National Partnership for New Americans, News Literacy Project, Planned Parenthood, Poder Latinx, Public Citizen, Rebuild, Register Her, She Should Run, The First Ask, The Leadership Conference Education Fund, Third Act, Transformative Justice Coalition, Voto Latino, and VoteRiders. 

The Day of Action is one step in a larger effort to turn grassroots energy into sustained voter participation through Election Day, which will be one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime. Sixty-one years after the Voting Rights Act became law, communities across the country are carrying its promise forward by organizing their neighbors, reaching voters, and building the people power needed to defend the freedom to vote. The League will continue empowering voters through advocacy, education, litigation, and organizing in the months leading up to the November midterm elections. 

To learn more about LWV’s Day of Action visit lwv.org/riseforvotingrights or attend an upcoming event at https://www.mobilize.us/lwv/map. 

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