Everytown Launches “Democracy Demands Action” – A Major New Initiative, to Help Ensure the Integrity of 2020 Election and Engage Voters Nationwide

Everytown, Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action to Engage Network of Nearly Six Million Supporters to Provide Needed Poll Workers, Poll Monitors and Help Those Waiting In Long Lines

Everytown, Through Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action Volunteer Chapters, has one of the Largest Grassroots Networks in the Nation With Over 1,000 Groups, In All 50 States

NEW YORK — Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund and Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund (“Everytown”), with the volunteers of the grassroots networks Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, today announced the launch of Democracy Demands Action – a large-scale, non-partisan effort engaging their grassroots network of nearly six million supporters to help ensure the safety and integrity of the 2020 election. 

Today’s announcement includes three key Election Day actions that volunteers can take in their local communities to support every voters’ right to cast their ballots:

1. Become a Poll Worker: In the midst of a nationwide poll worker shortage due to coronavirus, Everytown is partnering with Power the Polls to inspire hundreds of thousands of low-risk and diverse poll workers to staff in-person voting locations during early voting and on Election Day. In the era of uncertainty caused by the ongoing pandemic, fewer poll workers – traditionally in the 60 and over age group – are signing up for the job. Since fewer poll workers has the potential to mean staffing shortages that result in voter disenfranchisement, this year, more than any in recent history, our democracy depends on the people who make sure elections run smoothly and that everyone’s vote is counted.
2. Become a member of the Voter Support Squad: Through the grassroots networks Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, Everytown will recruit “support squads” in each state to monitor social media for discussions about polling locations that have long lines. Voter Support Squad members will then be dispatched to polling locations in all 50 states to distribute water, coffee, and snacks so that people can stay in line to cast their ballot.
3. Become a Poll Monitor or Voter Hotline Volunteer: Democracy Demands Action will also partner with Election Protection – the nation’s largest non-partisan voter protection coalition – to engage volunteers to staff the national voter hotline (administered by The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law) and serve as poll monitors.  Hotline volunteers and poll monitors will help to promote transparency and openness on Election Day by monitoring for issues that may arise across the country, and answering questions of voters who call the national voter hotlines (866-OUR-VOTE, 888-VE-Y-VOTA, 888-API-VOTE & 888-Yalla-US) for general support and legal resources. 

“Everytown is committed to doing everything in our power to ensure that every single voter is able to cast a ballot on November 3,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Our grassroots army of six million volunteers are an organizing force of nature, and we will put our experience to good use on Election Day.”

“Voter access has never been more critical, and demanding democracy takes work,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. “For the 2020 election, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers are committing to doing our part to ensure access to the ballot and that every ballot is counted, regardless of age, race or zip code.”

“Even though I am too young to vote in this election, it is important to me that this election is fair and open which is why I will be volunteering a poll worker,” said Maddie Ahmadi, a volunteer leader with Students Demand Action in Vermont. “Across the country, Students Demand Action volunteers are committed to making sure that age-old voter suppression tactics don’t impact anyone’s access to the ballot during this election.” 

Safe and equitable access to the ballot and having that ballot counted are bedrock principles of American democracy, and Everytown, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action are happy to lend their vast network of volunteers on election day to help ensure every voter’s right to participate.