Protecting Free and Fair Elections
Where Risks Appear — and Where We as Citizens Have Leverage
Free and fair elections depend on professional election administration, clear legal safeguards, and public trust. Civic organizations and citizens can reinforce these guardrails by supporting election officials, promoting accurate information, and participating constructively in the electoral process.
Category of Risk
Voter intimidation or harassment at polling locations
Administrative disruption (pressure on election offices or procedures, changing procedures and locations)
Litigation and certification challenges
Misinformation about election procedures
Pressure on election officials and poll workers
Institutional Guardrails
Federal and state laws prohibit voter intimidation. Election officials coordinate with law enforcement and trained monitors.
Elections are administered under statutory rules by professional county election officials.
Courts interpret election law and ensure certification procedures are followed.
Election officials publish transparent procedures for ballot handling and vote tabulation.
Election administrators operate under civil service protections and statutory responsibilities.
What We Can Do
Volunteer as nonpartisan election observers; support voter‑protection hotlines; distribute accurate information about voter rights.
Attend public meetings of election authorities; learn how election administration works; publicly support election officials.
Support organizations defending lawful election procedures; lawyers can volunteer with election‑protection programs
.
Organize community forums explaining election processes; share accurate information about registration and voting timelines.
Volunteer as poll workers or election assistants; publicly recognize and support election workers.
An important part our work will be supporting initiatives in select districts outside of the SF Bay Area. See details of litigation and advocacy led by election lawyers such as Marc Elias, whose work focuses on defending lawful election procedures and voting rights.