This excerpt is from a piece that originally ran on May 2, 2024.
Canvassers trying to register new voters are staring down unprecedented hostility and navigating a minefield of new laws ahead of November’s election.
Why it matters: Many advocates say some state governments have made it harder to cast a ballot over the past few years amid rising public distrust of the election process.
- The rematch between President Biden and former President Trump — along with control of the Senate — could hinge on a small number of votes, making turnout critical, especially in swing states.
- “We need to be focused on making sure that every voice is heard, making sure that everyone has equal political power and can ensure that they are properly represented in government,” says Natalie Roetzel Ossenfort, director of the Alliance for Justice’s Bolder Advocacy program.