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As election laws evolve and misinformation continues to cloud the political landscape, voting rights organizations are rethinking how they engage voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The shift comes as advocates mark the 61st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act on Aug. 6, a landmark civil rights law that transformed access to the ballot but has been steadily reshaped by years of court decisions and legal challenges.

Rather than relying primarily on litigation and legislative advocacy, groups like the League of Women Voters are investing more heavily in grassroots organizing, voter education and community outreach as they work to help voters navigate an increasingly complex election landscape.

The League’s Unite & Rise for Voting Rights campaign—which includes a virtual pep rally on Aug. 6 and a nationwide Day of Action on Saturday—is one example of that broader shift. The initiative aims to mobilize 8.5 million voters through hundreds of community events and partnerships ahead of November’s elections, according to the League.

Researchers say the changing strategy reflects very real challenges facing American democracy. The University of Southern California’s Center for Inclusive Democracy found that misinformation and declining trust in elections can discourage civic participation, particularly among historically marginalized communities, making trusted local outreach and voter education increasingly important.

Meeting voters where they are

League of Women Voters CEO Celina Stewart said one message has consistently emerged from the organization’s chapters across the country.

“What I’m hearing from people on the ground is that people are confused,” Stewart told Blavity in an exclusive interview. “There’s a lot of things going on with the courts. There’s a lot of things that the administration is saying that can cause confusion for people.”

Stewart said that confusion has prompted the League to focus not only on encouraging voter turnout but also on helping people understand how to participate, from learning state-specific election rules to making a plan to vote early when possible.

“When I became CEO, I said we wanted organizers around the country,” Stewart said. “There are lots of communities around the country who never even get touched by a political party. They only come to see you when they need your vote. We want to be the bridge.”

The League isn’t alone.

The American Civil Liberties Union recently launched what it calls its largest-ever Election Safeguarding initiative, pairing litigation with voter education, election monitoring, Know Your Rights trainings and volunteer recruitment ahead of the midterms.

Researchers have observed a similar shift. According to the Scholars Strategy Network, traditional election-season outreach often misses voters who are less politically engaged, making year-round organizing and trusted community relationships more effective ways to strengthen civic participation.

From court victories to community organizing

The renewed focus on organizing also comes as voting rights advocates continue to assess the long-term impact of court decisions affecting access to the ballot.

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, the Supreme Court’s 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder eliminated the Voting Rights Act’s preclearance formula, removing a key federal safeguard against discriminatory voting law changes. More recently, the Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais renewed debate over how remaining Voting Rights Act protections should be applied in redistricting cases.

For Stewart, those legal developments reinforce the importance of voter participation.

“Black people have always been the backbone of elections,” she said. “We have to recognize what our power is in this moment.”

She also argued that continued efforts affecting Black political representation underscore the influence Black voters continue to have on American elections.

“I always say, follow the money and follow the target,” Stewart said. “Black people would not be targeted if there wasn’t power associated with it.”

Looking to November

The League’s Unite & Rise campaign is about more than increasing turnout on Election Day. It’s tied to a much larger effort to rethink how civic organizations connect with voters in an increasingly complex political environment.

As voting rights groups adapt to changing election laws, ongoing legal battles and persistent misinformation, Stewart said sustained community engagement—not just election-season outreach—will be critical in the months ahead.

“There are lots of communities around the country who never even get touched by a political party,” Stewart said. “They only come to see you when they need your vote. We want to be the bridge.”

The League hopes its campaign will help build that bridge through nearly 400 events nationwide, encouraging voters to see civic participation as an ongoing responsibility rather than a once-every-four-years exercise.