Organizations

This list is not exhaustive. Please let us know about organizations in your state or local community. Email us at holdthelineunite@gmail.com

Check out this sortable spread sheet that lists 155 democracy-defense, social-justice, and election-protection organizations partnering with Protect the Results, and includes information about each organization’s mission, membership, headquarters, and date of founding.

PLEASE NOTE: We will be adding many more social justice organizations as well as an entire section devoted to climate change in the very near future.

**Organizations defending democracy and protecting elections:**

NOTE: A list of organizations specific to election protection follows this list.

31st Street | Swing Left

“A growing group of people from DC, MD, and VA who want to help Democratic candidates take back control at the federal, state, and local level. We focus on identifying key local and federal districts with elections that can impact control of the White House, Congress, and statehouses (where congressional district lines are drawn), finding ways to support grass-roots groups who are working to expand and encourage voter registration and turnout in order to support Democracy at all levels, raising money for those key elections, and on knocking doors to persuade voters to vote for the candidates we support.”

After We Vote

“After We Vote intermediates between people and organizations working to strengthen American democracy and a diverse community of leaders with representation across politics, corporate, startup, tech, VC, social media, creative/design, entertainment, social justice and legal (to name a few). Our collective network, competence, and reach is an extraordinary asset to activate in service of ensuring our country realizes its democratic ideals. Our founders are from many different political interests and backgrounds. We are a non-partisan, cross racial, pro-Democracy effort.”

American Civil Liberties Union

Founded in 1920, the American Civil Liberties Union “works in the courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to all people in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States.”

Bend the Arc

“Bend the Arc is a movement of tens of thousands of progressive Jews all across the country. For years, we’ve worked to build a more just society. Now we’re rising up in solidarity with everyone threatened by the Trump agenda to fight for the soul of our nation. Together, we: stand with communities under attack, hold elected officials accountable, and win local progressive victories.”

Brennan Center for Justice

The Brennan Center for Justice “is a nonpartisan law and policy institute. We strive to uphold the values of democracy. We stand for equal justice and the rule of law. We work to craft and advance reforms that will make American democracy work, for all.”

Casa In Action

100,000 members mobilizing millions of voters to electing progressive leaders supporting immigrants and communities of color

Choose Democracy

“We believe in supporting the winner of a free and fair election, but we will oppose any attempts to twist the process beyond recognition.” On their landing page, an updated analysis of where we are now is provided.

Civic Alliance

A “non-partisan group of businesses working together to build a future where everyone participates in shaping our country.”

Common Cause

A coalition of “one million powerful, fearless, ordinary Americans working together to build a democracy that works for us all.”

Defending Digital Democracy Project (D3P)

“The Defending Digital Democracy Project at Harvard’s Kennedy School/Belfer Center for International Affairs aims to develop strategies, tools, and technology to protect democratic processes and systems from cyber and information attacks. They have developed a state-by-state data base, intended to provide a centralized set of information on the major factors that describe our election processes and that could affect the tempo of the 2020 election. It is not intended to predict the future, but rather to present the state-by-state variation in regulations that could impact the progression of the election.”

Democracy Defense Coalition

The Democracy Defense Coalition “works closely with more than 230 progressive leadership groups and membership organizations to stand up the values that underpin our democratic system—counting every vote, the peaceful transition of power, and putting power in the hands of the people where it belongs.”

Democracy Docket

Democracy Docket is the leading progressive media platform dedicated to providing information, opinion and analysis about voting rights, elections, redistricting and democracy.

Finding Steady Ground

“To be in shape for the long haul, we have to get our minds and spirits ready, as well as jump into action. When we’re in bad shape, our power is diminished—we’re less creative, more reactive, and less able to plan strategically. If we intend to stay active and effective in the world, we have a responsibility to tend to our spirits. Presents seven behaviors we can use right away to strengthen ourselves, so we can keep taking more and more powerful and strategic actions.”

Free Press

“We believe that positive social change, racial justice and meaningful engagement in public life require equitable access to technology, diverse and independent ownership of media platforms, and journalism that holds leaders accountable and tells people what’s actually happening in their communities. We seek to change the media to transform democracy to realize a just society.”

Get Money Out, Maryland

“Get Money Out—Maryland is a volunteer force of Marylanders demanding full voting rights for every citizen and regulation of big money in politics. We work to promote reforms to end the corrupting influence of big money in the political process and strengthen the power of individual citizens. Our goal is enacting a U.S. Constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizen’s United v. FEC decision, empower states and the federal government to regulate the raising and spending of money in our elections, establish that Constitutional rights apply only to natural persons, and affirm the right to vote for all citizens.”

Indivisible

“A grassroots movement of thousands of local Indivisible groups with a mission to elect progressive leaders, rebuild our democracy, and defeat the Trump agenda. Enter your zip code and find local and statewide groups that are planning actions.” Download their free guide, Indivisible: A Practical Guide for Resisting the Trump Agenda and Indivisible on Offense: A Practical Guide to the New, Democratic House.

Is This A Coup?

Home of the Coup-o-meter. “Until very recently, most Americans would have said that a coup is very unlikely in the United States. But public statements by President Trump have made it clear that he would be willing to seize power in a coup if he is not elected to a second term. This site provides background on coups, how they happen in a democracy, and what we can do to prevent one.”

League of Women Voters

The nonpartisan League of Women Voters of the United States “encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.”

National Popular Vote

“The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. It has been enacted into law by fifteen states and DC with 196 electoral votes (Map of states). It needs an additional seventy-four electoral votes to go into effect.”

Stand Up America

A grassroots community committed to resisting Trump’s agenda, increasing voter participation, and unrigging our corrupt political system. Enter your information for ways to fight back.

UnKoch My Campus

“Donors are exerting undue influence on colleges and universities nationwide to further a corrupt agenda that centers corporations and roll backs social and economic progress. The vision of UnKoch My Campus is to preserve our democracy through protecting higher education from actors whose expressed intent is to place private interests over the common good.”

Organizations specific to election protection

Center for Popular Democracy

The Center for Popular Democracy “works to create equity, opportunity and a dynamic democracy in partnership with high-impact base-building organizations, organizing alliances, and progressive unions. CPD strengthens our collective capacity to envision and win an innovative pro-worker, pro-immigrant, racial and economic justice agenda.”

Democracy Docket

A “platform for progressive advocacy and information about voting rights, elections, redistricting and democracy. Created and published by Marc Elias, Democracy Docket shines a spotlight on voter suppression and offers expert opinion on how to fight it in all of its forms. It also provides detailed information about important litigation that will shape our elections, voting and democratic institutions for years to come.”

Election Protection

“The national, nonpartisan Election Protection coalition works so all voters have an equal opportunity to participate in the political process. Made up of more than 100 local, state and national partners, Election Protection works year-round to advance and defend your right to vote.”

Eleven Three

Eleven Three’s strategy centers on supporting the dynamic needs of critical frontline organizations; thereby bringing high leverage opportunities to our extended network. Eleven Three is working with a growing list of leading organizations including the joint Stanford-MIT Healthy Elections Project, Power the Polls, Civic Alliance, The Brennan Center, The Center for New Data, and team behind the Hold the Line Guide.

Fair Fight

“We promote fair elections in Georgia and around the country, encourage voter participation in elections, and educate voters about elections and their voting rights. Fair Fight brings awareness to the public on election reform, advocates for election reform at all levels, and engages in other voter education programs and communications.”

Grandmothers for a Brighter Future

“Grandmothers for a Brighter Future began as Grandmothers for Obama. Launched in 2008, we soon grew to 13 groups in a handful of states. In 2012, we had writers in 25 states plus the District of Columbia. We focused on the Presidency, and some of us also worked on races in our own states. In 2016, we once again focused on the Presidency and on selected races for the U. S. Senate, and, in 2018, joined the effort to flip the Senate. We currently have writers in 46 states plus D. C. We are all volunteer and self-financed locally, and thus not a PAC.”

New Georgia Project

The New Georgia Project “is a nonpartisan effort to register and civically engage Georgians. Georgia’s population is growing and becoming increasingly diverse. Over the past decade, the population of Georgia increased 18%. The New American Majority—people of color, those 18 to 29 years of age, and unmarried women—is a significant part of that growth. The New American Majority makes up 62% of the voting age population in Georgia, but they are only 53% of registered voters.”

Head Count

Head Count is devoted to getting people registered to vote and interested in democracy. They come to concerts, festivals, community events — anywhere they can translate the power of music and culture into real action.

Power the Polls

A “first-of-its-kind initiative to recruit poll workers to ensure a safe, fair election for all voters. Power the Polls uses data on poll worker requirements researched and collected by the nonpartisan Fair Elections Center, creators of the unique Work Elections web portal. Information is available on poll worker compensation, hours, application links, and training and voter registration requirements for more than 4,000 jurisdictions in states across the country.”

Protect Our Election

A charitable organization founded and supported by American citizens who value democracy and the rule of law above all else. Nonpartisan. NOTE: the POE website will autopopulate with your information and send messages to your elected officials about extending the deadline to count votes and protecting elections (there are several campaigns).

Protect the Results

Building a coalition of voters ready to mobilize if Trump undermines the results of the 2020 presidential election. Find and sign up for an action on November 4th or 7th.

Represent Us

“We bring together conservatives, progressives, and everyone in between to pass powerful state and local laws that fix our broken elections and stop political bribery. Our strategy is central to ending political corruption, extremism and gridlock.”

Stanford-MIT Healthy Elections Project

“The Stanford-MIT Healthy Elections Project was developed to ensure that the 2020 election can proceed with integrity, safety, and equal access. We aim to do this by bringing together academics, civic organizations, election administrators, and election administration experts to assess and promote best practices.” The website offers many post-election reports.

When We All Vote

“When We All Vote is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization that is on a mission to increase participation in every election and close the race and age voting gap by changing the culture around voting, harnessing grassroots energy, and through strategic partnerships to reach every American. Launched in 2018 by co-chairs Michelle Obama, Tom Hanks, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monae, Chris Paul, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, When We All Vote is changing the culture around voting using a data-driven and multifaceted approach to increase participation in elections.”

Everyday Activism

One of our Hold the Line Unitemembers recommends making civic engagement a daily practice. In this section, you will find resources to help you do that.

5CALLS

This app makes it easy and effective for citizens to make an impact in national and local politics. You select the topic, enter your zip code, and the app walks you through calling members of Congress.

“Calling members of Congress is the most effective way to have your voice heard. Calls are tallied by staffers and the count is given to your representatives, informing them how strongly their constituents feel about a current issue. The sooner you reach out, the more likely it is that your voice will influence their position.

5 Calls does the research for each issue, determining which representatives are most influential for which topic, collecting phone numbers for those offices and writing scripts that clearly articulate a progressive position. You just have to call.”

WHY CALLING WORKS:

Causes.com

“You can use Causes to:

Read clear and succinct summaries of upcoming & active bills, the news, and all matters of political importance.
Tell your lawmakers how to vote on those issues by clicking "Yea" or "Nay"; "Support" or "Oppose"; "Heck yes!" or "No way!"
Start your own Cause and deliver content to your community in a way that facilitates easy, meaningful civic action.
Track how your elected officials voted on bills so you can hold them accountable in the next election.
Target CEOs, governors, states, and local leaders as you make the political personal.

“Causes is available for free online, on iOS, and Android devices.”

Organizations working on social-justice issues, including digital democracy, economic justice, and others

Acumen

“Neither the markets nor aid alone can solve the problems of poverty. More than two billion people around the world lack access to basic goods and services—from clean water and electricity to an education and the freedom to participate in the economy. We’re here to change that. Our vision is a world based on dignity, where every human being has the same opportunity. Rather than giving philanthropy away, we invest it in companies and change makers.”

AI Now Institute

“A research institute examining the social implications of artificial intelligence. As artificial intelligence and related technologies are used to make determinations and predictions in high stakes domains such as criminal justice, law enforcement, housing, hiring, and education, they have the potential to impact basic rights and liberties in profound ways. AI Now is partnering with the ACLU and other stakeholders to better understand and address these impacts. Data reflects the social, historical and political conditions in which it was created. Artificial intelligence systems ‘learn’ based on the data they are given. This, along with many other factors, can lead to biased, inaccurate, and unfair outcomes. AI Now researches issues of fairness, looking at how bias is defined and by whom, and the different impacts of AI and related technologies on diverse populations.”

Algorithmic Justice League

The Algorithmic Justice League is an organization that combines art and research to illuminate the social implications and harms of artificial intelligence (AI). AJL’s mission is to raise public awareness about the impacts of AI, equip advocates with empirical research to bolster campaigns, build the voice and choice of most impacted communities, and galvanize researchers, policymakers, and industry practitioners to mitigate AI bias and harms.

Black Lives Matter

Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, Inc. is “a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy, we are winning immediate improvements in our lives.”

Center for Humane Technology

“Tech platforms make billions of dollars keeping us clicking, scrolling, and sharing. Just like a tree is worth more as lumber and a whale is worth more dead than alive—in the attention extraction economy a human is worth more when we are depressed, outraged, polarized, and addicted. The Center for Humane Technology raises awareness and drives change through high-profile presentations to global leaders, public testimony to policymakers and heads of state, and mass media campaigns reaching millions. We also mobilize technologists as advocates and collaborate with top tech leaders through open and closed-door convenings.”

See especially CHT’s LEDGER OF HARMS, a collection of facts from fact-based sources and peer-reviewed scientific literature.
Watch the film: The Social Dilemma, on Netflix to learn more about this important organization.

Center for New Data

The Center for New Data originally convened at the start of the U.S. COVID-19 pandemic as the COVID Alliance, an all-volunteer non-profit organization, spanning technologists, policy researchers, and entrepreneurs. Their Observing Democracy project “seeks to document objective measures relating to our in-person voting process, surface inefficiencies and inequities, and offer a historical record of long-term value to policy-makers and researchers and that the American people can agree upon.”

Code for America

“We are a network of people making government work for the people, by the people, in the digital age. How do we get there? With government services that are simple, effective, and easy to use, working at scale to help all Americans, starting with the people who need them most.”

Color of Change

“Color Of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by 7 million members, we move decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America.”

Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

“The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is a nonprofit, grassroots civil-rights and advocacy group. CAIR is America’s largest Islamic civil liberties group [dedicated to] challenging anti-Muslim hate, defending the rights of American Muslims, empowering Muslim families, youth, children, and elders to use their voice through mainstream media and lobbying, and building results-focused relationships with leaders in business, academia, labor, faith, and government.”

Crowd Counting Consortium

A public interest and scholarly project to document crowds and contention in the United States.

Equal Justice Initiative

The Equal Justice Initiative is “committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.”

Haymarket People’s Fund

“An anti-racist and multi-cultural foundation that is committed to strengthening the movement for social justice in New England. Through grantmaking, fundraising, and capacity building, we support grassroots organizations that address the root causes of injustice. Haymarket also organizes to increase sustainable community philanthropy throughout our region.”

Me Too Movement

“The Me Too Movement believes in the radical possibilities of a movement against sexual violence, led by survivors of sexual violence.”

Office of the Public Defender

The Maryland Office of the Public Defender (OPD) is an independent state agency founded in 1972. “A thirteen-member Board of Trustees studies, observes, and advises on the operation of the public defender system. The Board appoints the Public Defender who serves a six-year term. OPD has at least one district office in each county and Baltimore City. The District Trial Divisions provide felony, misdemeanor, traffic and juvenile delinquency defense for any offense where incarceration or detention is a possible penalty. Stages of representation include: arraignments, bail review, preliminary hearings, pre-trial motions, trial/disposition, sentencing/adjudication, motions to modify, and violations of probation and parole.”

Poor People’s Campaign

“Today, the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival has picked up the unfinished work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. From Alaska to Arkansas, the Bronx to the border, people are coming together to confront the interlocking evils of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, militarism and the war economy, and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism. We understand that as a nation we are at a critical juncture — that we need a movement that will shift the moral narrative, impact policies and elections at every level of government, and build lasting power for poor and impacted people.”

Sankofa

“A social justice organization founded by Harry Belafonte that enlists the support of today's most celebrated artists and influential individuals in collaboration with grassroots partners to elevate the voices of the disenfranchised and promote justice, peace, and equality.”

Sentencing Project

“The Sentencing Project works for a fair and effective U.S. criminal justice system by producing groundbreaking research to promote reforms in sentencing policy, address unjust racial disparities and practices, and to advocate for alternatives to incarceration. As a result of The Sentencing Project’s thirty-four years of research, publications, and advocacy, many people know that this country is the world’s leader in incarceration; that racial disparities pervade the criminal justice system; that over six million Americans can’t vote because of felony convictions; and that thousands of women and children have lost food stamps and cash assistance as the result of convictions for drug offenses.”

Southern Poverty Law Center

A catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements, and advance the human rights of all people. Click HERE to view their interactive hate map.

SNCC Digital Gateway

This website is a comprehensive history of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee, the only civil-rights organization led by young people. The website’s authors ask visitors to “learn From the Past, organize for the Future, make Democracy Work.”

Trickle Up Foundation

Creating breakthrough opportunities for the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people by fostering large-scale change through partnerships with governments, global institutions, and local organizations.

Unfinished Labs Liberty Project

A project to build “an open source protocol that embeds data rights into the web itself. It’s built as new, decentralized, and universally accessible public infrastructure. Ultimately, our aim is for this protocol to open a new landscape for social innovators and entrepreneurs to create applications that generate more value for the people who use the web.”