National Black and Latino Civil Rights Leaders Underscore Urgent Need to Turn Out the Vote in November

Read a PDF of our statement here.

Today, leaders from prominent national Black and Latino civil rights and advocacy organizations hosted a press conference to underscore the urgent need to protect voting rights and increase civic participation ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The press conference was held during the overlapping Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) conference week, at a critical moment where eligible voters nationwide are facing attacks at all levels against free and fair access to the ballot.

"There are more than 60 million Black or Latino eligible voters in this country, of which more than 10 million are not yet registered," said Janai Nelson, President and Director-Counsel of the Legal Defense Fund. "We need every single one of us to register now and make our voices heard in the midterm elections. Using our right to vote in full force is the first step to secure the rights and opportunities that matter most: healthcare, good-paying jobs, a better cost of living, public safety, quality education, and protection of our neighbors. Yet at this very moment, this administration is doing everything in its power to strip Black and Latino voters of our right to vote. LDF is calling on Black and Latino communities to come together around the issues that impact our communities and to make their voices heard through full and informed participation in the democratic process. Register to vote and make our voices heard through early in-person voting, mail-in voting, or voting on Election Day on Nov. 3."

"Black people, Latinos, and millions of voters across the country voters are facing compounding obstacles to the ballot in November's election - last-minute attempts to change rules, redistricting, polling place closures, threats of federal agents at the polls, new identification requirements, and more every day," said Lourdes M. Rosado, President and General Counsel, LatinoJustice PRLDEF. "Organizations like ours have fought for equal access to the ballot for decades, and we understand that the only way to stand up to the chaos and fear that anti-democratic forces are sowing among voters is to stand together, and help prepare our election officials and our communities to make sure elections are free and fair."

"Our communities have long endured attack after attack on our most basic rights, stemming from racist and discriminatory narratives that have sown fear and division deep into the heart of this country," said Juan Proaño, CEO of League of United Latin American Citizens. "But fear will not win the day. We will not let it keep us from ensuring that our elections are reliable and our voters are safe because we are stronger when we fight together. We need every single eligible voter to exercise their foundational right and create overwhelming turnout in the upcoming elections."

Additional organizations who spoke during the press conference include Voto Latino, Poder Latinx, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, Black Voters Matter, Advancement Project, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and National Council of Negro Women.

Ahead of the press conference, participating organizations issued letters to all 50 governors, 50 secretaries of state, and hundreds of mayors across the country highlighting key threats for elected officials and other community leaders to monitor, suggested preparation tactics, and robust resources ahead of Election Day. Public Rights Project, Mayors for America, the Alliance for Local Leaders International, and the African American Mayors Association were essential in distributing the letter to various mayors nationwide.

Read the letter to governors here.

Read the letter to secretaries of state here.

Read the letter to mayors here.

Visit here for resources for elected officials and community leaders ahead of Election Day.

Visit here to check your registration and make a plan to vote.

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Founded in 1940, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF)is the nation's first civil rights legal organization. LDF has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957, though it was founded under the leadership of Thurgood Marshall while he was at the NAACP. LDF's Thurgood Marshall Institute (TMI) is a division of LDF that undertakes innovative research and houses LDF's archive. In all media attributions, please refer to us as the Legal Defense Fund or LDF (do not include NAACP) and refer to the Institute as LDF's Thurgood Marshall Institute or TMI.