Hands Off Our Vote!
Indivisible National Call • July 30, 2026
I attended tonight’s Hands Off Our Vote national kick off Zoom call hosted by Indivisible. Man, this organization is cooking! I am stating the obvious, but the Indivisible team is thoughtful, organized, proactive, and connected to many other important organizations.
I was particularly struck particularly by their advised strategy of voting early. Indivisible framed early voting as an election-protection strategy—not simply a turnout tactic.
Their reasoning was:
“Bank” votes before Election Day. Early voting reduces the number of people vulnerable to last-minute polling-place changes, voter purges, intimidation, long lines, documentation problems, or other disruptions.
Produce overwhelming, visible turnout. Organizers argued that large early-vote numbers make the public’s will clearer and make attempts to dispute or overturn the results less credible.
Make voting social and observable. When neighbors, friends, and families vote together, it becomes harder to sow confusion about whether legitimate voting occurred.
Counter cynicism and disinformation. Celebratory events—block parties, “Power to the Polls,” or “Joy to the Polls”—are meant to make voting “joyful, visible, and trustworthy,” particularly in communities where people feel their votes do not matter.
Build organizing capacity. These events create contact lists, relationships, and local networks that can respond quickly to voter suppression, ballot-counting interference, or attempts to reject the results.
“We want people to vote early and vote together, so the vote is undeniable.”
I used the transcript of the call to generate a summary of the call. I’ve edited it a bit, and posted it below. I’ve also added resources mentioned to our democracy database.
I hope that this will help others to get involved in this work.
Key Outcomes
Indivisible launched its national election protection campaign, Hands Off Our Vote, on a kickoff call attended by approximately 4,500–6,000 live participants (with ~11,000–12,000 total sign-ups receiving the recording). The campaign centers on three core guarantees: every eligible voter can vote, every vote is counted, and election results are honored with winners seated. A four-part national strategy was introduced alongside a specialized Election Defense Corps program for seven battleground states, with immediate action steps available to all participants regardless of location.
Announcements
Hands Off Our Vote is Indivisible’s official nationwide election protection program for the 2026 election cycle.
Protect Democracy (represented by Corey Dukes) is a key coalition partner; the broader pro-democracy election protection coalition is described as “vastly bigger, broader, better prepared, and better aligned than it’s ever been.”
Two in-depth election protection trainings are scheduled for the second half of August; a single sign-up link covers both.
The No Kings Coalition will play a specific role in mobilizing around the early vote window, with major plans forthcoming.
The Battlegrounds Action Toolkit is a living document updated weekly with the top 3–4 calls to action organized by state. (My note: I am not sure where to find this. This may be the document referred to.)
The Threat Landscape
Authoritarian Playbook: “Deceive, Disrupt, Deny”
Deceive: Supercharged lies and conspiracies amplified from the White House to sow voter confusion and doubt.
Disrupt: Deployment of federal power against opponents and organizations (e.g., Ohio Organizing Collaborative cited); use of violence threats to deter voting; manipulation of election rules to block ballot access.
Deny: Deception and disruption serve as pretexts to reject results the administration dislikes, while also demotivating voters they oppose.
Key distinction from prior cycles: Current efforts carry the full weight of the executive branch, representing a significant escalation.
Specific Tactics Being Used
Gutting of the Voting Rights Act and destruction of Black and Brown congressional districts.
Ballot box seizures and attacks on mail-in voting and voter registration.
Installation of election deniers in key local and administrative positions.
Voter roll purges disproportionately targeting Black voters, voters of color, and infrequent voters.
Threatened or actual deployment of federal agents (ICE, DHS, Border Patrol, National Guard) at polling locations.
The SAVE Act, which if enacted would devastate millions of voters, particularly those who have changed their name for marriage or other reasons (so far unsuccessful).
Strategic Intent Behind the Threats
Flood the zone with enough disinformation that even unpersuasive lies create sufficient confusion to cover for sabotage.
Each authoritarian action is a calculated bet that sustained pressure will eventually cause the opposition to give up.
Demotivating and discouraging voters and activists is a core goal — “they fear our joy” and collective action.
Four-Part National Strategy
Strategy 1: Bank the Early Vote
Massive early turnout makes it harder for bad actors to deny results and reduces opportunities for interference.
When voters and neighbors are visibly voting early, claims of fraud become demonstrably less credible.
Practical steps: Check registration; obtain required state ID and documents well in advance; make a personal early vote plan; recruit friends and family to vote early together.
Strategy 2: Combat Disinformation — Be a Pro-Voting Messenger
Trusted local messengers are the most effective counter to disinformation; each participant is identified as their community’s best messenger.
Channels: social media, neighbor conversations, community events, organizing early vote groups.
Goal: Make voting joyful, visible, and trustworthy, especially in environments of cynicism about whether votes matter.
Strategy 3: Rapid Response to Election Threats
Every new authoritarian action requires immediate response to prevent it from sticking.
Tactics include: visibility brigades, phone banks to re-register illegally purged voters, showing up at election offices to support officials properly counting ballots.
Indivisible will send action alerts for every major new development; call participants are already on the alert list.
Strategy 4: Mass Mobilization Formation
No Kings protests and rallies were explicitly described as rehearsal — building the muscle and connections needed for rapid emergency mobilization.
If Trump attempts to deny results, seize ballots, or refuse to seat winners, the goal is to ensure society cannot ignore it.
The capability built through No Kings events enables mobilizing millions with potentially only days or hours of notice.
Election Defense Corps (Battleground Program)
Seven Battleground States — “MOATING”
States: Michigan, Ohio, Alaska, Texas, Iowa, North Carolina, Georgia (acronym: MOATING — building a protective moat).
Selection criteria: electoral priorities, election defense priorities, and group growth priorities; these seven do not represent all states with significant threats.
All seven face heightened risk from both local and national bad actors.
Program Structure
A year-round organizing program active before, during, and after the November election, continuing until all newly elected officials are sworn in January 2027.
In-state organizers have already been hired in all seven states and are plugged into local election protection and voting rights coalitions, some of which have been organizing since the 1960s.
Indivisible’s explicit posture: complement existing coalition work, not compete with or reinvent it.
Feedback Loop / Ticket System
EDC member observes a local, county, or statewide election threat.
Member submits a report via a ticket system (launching soon in all seven states).
In-state organizer and voter protection experts verify the threat.
Verified threat goes to local and statewide election protection coalition partners for collective response.
If necessary, escalated to Indivisible National and other national organizations for amplification.
EDC Communications Protocol
Primary communication channel: email from battlegrounds@indivisible.org (expected first email: the afternoon following the call).
Participants urged to save this address to contacts and click links in the email to improve future deliverability and avoid spam filtering.
Commitment: no donation requests, no emails sent merely for the sake of sending — only important, timely calls to action.
Battlegrounds Action Toolkit: living document, updated weekly, organized state by state; recommended to bookmark and check for 2 minutes weekly.
Scenario Planning & Concrete Situations
Scenario 1: Voter Roll Purges
Officials may use inaccurate data to remove eligible voters or challenge eligibility at polls.
Purges fall hardest on Black voters, voters of color, and infrequent voters.
A purge does not have to become a lost vote — proactive registration checks and community outreach are the primary defense.
Voter purge phone banks are expected to be organized through local elections; Indivisible will notify participants via email.
Scenario 2: Federal Agents at Polling Locations
Scenarios include ICE, DHS, Border Patrol, or National Guard showing up at polling locations or attempting to seize ballots/equipment.
Election officials’ response options: call attorneys, examine scope of any warrant, document what is taken, challenge unlawful actions immediately; legal partner organizations are prepared to support.
Community/Indivisible role: show up to witness, document, protest, and publicize to prevent confusion from allowing sabotage to go unnoticed.
Being connected to local networks enables rapid connection to legal support when needed.
POV Scenarios — Applying Strategy by Context
Deep Blue State (e.g., Seattle, WA)
Check and maintain own registration and documentation; get it out of the way to free up capacity for other action.
Engage in remote voter turnout support: phone banks, postcards, and other support for voters in battleground states.
Join a local Indivisible group to stay connected to rapid response opportunities and national calls to action.
Monitor Indivisible emails to respond quickly when national alerts are issued.
MAGA-Dominated/Gerrymandered State (e.g., Little Rock, AR)
Acknowledge and validate voter disillusionment rather than dismissing it; direct energy toward local races and joyful collective voting experiences.
Learn updated state election laws and who enforces them; contact local election administrators to ask about their plans for a free and fair election.
Connect with local Indivisible groups — described as doing “incredible, empowering work” in MAGA-dominated states.
Plan celebratory early vote events (block parties, “Power to the Polls,” “Joy to the Polls”) as models for community engagement.
Overwhelming turnout remains an election protection strategy even in heavily red states.
Battleground/Purple State (e.g., Ohio)
Sign up for the Election Defense Corps immediately.
Become a poll worker; build local coalitions; intensify all standard strategies in a coordinated way.
EDC membership syncs participants with local voting rights networks for real-time, state-specific threat response.
Immediate Action Items
All participants: Save the Hands Off Our Vote toolkit; it is the central hub for all election protection resources and action pathways.
All participants: Sign up for the August election protection trainings (101 and 201) via the shared link.
All participants: Check voter registration now and set a system to check regularly, especially in states with active voter suppression.
All participants: Obtain or verify a current state-compliant ID; secure certified copies of birth certificate and passport if possible.
All participants: Find and join a local Indivisible group if not already connected .
All participants: Build a contact and call list of friends, family, and fellow activists who can be mobilized for rapid response (registration checks, phone banks, protests).
All participants: Research who runs elections in your area and whether they are trustworthy stewards of the vote.
All participants: Explore local volunteer opportunities via WeAreGroundControl.org (enter zip code for hyper-local election protection efforts).
Battleground state residents: Sign up for the Election Defense Corps and save battlegrounds@indivisible.org to contacts.
Battleground state residents: Bookmark the Battlegrounds Action Toolkit and check it weekly.
Pending Confirmation / Upcoming
Ticket system for EDC members to report election threats in all seven battleground states: launching soon, details forthcoming.
Specific No Kings Coalition plans around early vote mobilization: to be announced as the early vote window approaches.
August training content will be shaped by Q&A questions submitted during this call and input from movement partners.
Additional scenario planning materials and deeper scenario walkthroughs planned for future trainings (building on Freedom Trainers’ core material).
Ongoing rapid response action alerts will be sent via email as new threats emerge throughout the election cycle.
Key Speakers & Organizations
Nora
Emcee & Trainer, Indivisible National Trainings and Calls Team
Leah Greenberg
Co-Leader & Co-Executive Director, Indivisible
Corey Dukes
Leads advocacy at Protect Democracy; former senior advisor to Senators McCaskill and Warren, State Director for Hillary for America
Andrew
National Advocacy Director, Indivisible
Isabelle
Battlegrounds Team, Indivisible
Partner organizations referenced: Protect Democracy, No Kings Coalition, Ground Control (WeAreGroundControl.org), Freedom Trainers