Defending Democracy: Planning for After the Presidential Election

We know the anxiety and trepidation many CFA members are feeling as dedicated elections office staff across the country continue round-the-clock ballot counting from this election’s record-setting voter turnout.

Many forces have stoked Americans’ anxiety in the months leading up to Election Day, trying to undermine voting and ballot counting, and threatening not to peacefully transition power, a hallmark of American democracy. 

In preparation for such a threat, several organizations – including CFA – began planning post-election contingencies aimed at preventing a constitutional crisis.

At our Fall Assembly in October, CFA delegates passed a resolution endorsing and committing to participate in organizing work to defend democracy and demand that all votes be counted in the November 3 election.

“CFA will steadfastly stand with local, state, and national unions and other organizations to protect and defend the votes cast by all, and, especially, the votes cast by Blacks, people of color, and Native and Indigenous people who historically and today experience voter suppression,” CFA President Charles Toombs said. “We believe in United States democracy, and the right to vote and have that vote counted is the hallmark of this treasured principle.”

We must prevent opportunists from using this moment to sow discord, confusion, and doubt on the November election results.  We must demand that all votes be counted.  We must protect democracy.

This will take all of us working together to defend the U.S. Constitution and protect the results of the election.  There are several actions planned across the country, including a day of action November 7.

To find an event near you, visit protecttheresults.com, a coalition of voters ready to mobilize against efforts to undermine the election.

Organizers are planning a massive march in Los Angeles to “Defend Each Other and Demand Democracy.”  Find more info on the march’s Facebook page.

“It’s imperative that unions mobilized their members in large numbers to get out and vote. At the same time, we must organize our members to take necessary actions if there are serious instances of voter intimidation and suppression, claims of victory without all votes being counted, or any attempts by the current administration to circumvent the will of the electorate,” said Anthony Ratcliff, CFA Los Angeles Chapter President. “We need to be prepared to resist and encourage all faculty to join with us.”

Organizers are also rallying across the Bay Area on Saturday.  Several Bay Area labor councils and unions are sponsoring “Count Every Vote: Rally to Defend Democracy.”  Find more information on the event’s Facebook page.

Our nation has always held elections and upheld the results, even in times of great crisis. We held successful presidential elections during the Civil War, Great Depression, and both World Wars. Now it’s our turn to show that nothing – not this pandemic or this president – will stand in our way of ensuring that every vote counts and that we count every vote.

For democracy to work for all of us, it must include all of us.