WASHINGTON– As the first polls are closing in the 2026 midterm elections, America Votes Executive Director Daria C. Dawson issued the following statement: 

“Before the results are all in, we should be proud of the work our coalition has done to make our democracy more inclusive and reflective of our country. Across the nation, voters have been eager to make their voices heard, and before polls opened on Election Day, more than 53 million voters cast a ballot.

“Over the course of this election, the partners of the America Votes coalition engaged voters across 39 states, having 10.7 million one-on-one conversations by phone, at people’s doors, and through relational and site-based organizing – reaching voters through friends, neighbors, coworkers, and trusted community spaces. 

“Those numbers matter because they represent real people and real conversations. But they also show what is possible when a coalition this strong is able to reach voters in more places.

“From Alaska to Maine and from Mississippi to Montana, our partners reached voters in states where our coalition has worked for years and in places where America Votes has not traditionally maintained a permanent presence. This cycle showed that our work does not have to stop at the boundaries of our permanent infrastructure.

“A voter’s voice does not become more important because they live in a battleground state, and an election does not become less consequential because it takes place outside one. Voters are everywhere. Elections are everywhere. Our field work should reflect that.

“Our partners went deeper where sustained engagement was necessary and moved resources and capacity when opportunities emerged elsewhere. And when it was time to mobilize, they were ready. In the final four days of the election, partners knocked 3 million doors, made 5 million calls, and had nearly 1.7 million conversations with voters.

“Our partners also worked to expand the electorate, registering more than 1.3 million voters in 2026, more than ever before. That work brought more people into the process and gave voters the opportunity to make their voices heard in this election and beyond.

“Our work also does not end when the polls close. Counting every ballot takes time, and our partners will stay on the ground to help voters cure their ballots and make sure every eligible vote is counted. 

“This has not been an easy cycle. But I am hopeful that pro-democracy champions will prevail at every level of the ballot, and then we can continue the work of safeguarding our democracy and delivering for our communities.” 

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America Votes works year-round to build a more representative democracy. We are the central coordination hub of the progressive community across the country, working with more than 400 state and national partner organizations to advance progressive policies, expand the electorate, and protect every American’s right to vote.