November 3rd is just around the corner, and we’re here to give you the lowdown on the most up-to-date information on how to make sure your voice is heard and counted in November. With Donald Trump and his state cronies attacking democratic norms on all fronts, state Democrats are protecting our elections and greater access to the ballot box. Republicans are trying to rig the maps and silence voters to stay in power.  But Americans are fed up with this administration’s policies. Democratic momentum is building, and we have an opportunity to send a message in the states by electing a historic slate of Democrats to state legislatures.

Early Voting

Almost every state offers a grace period before Election Day for voters to cast their ballots. With numerous historic opportunities on our 2026 Target Map to flip seats, break GOP majorities, and build Democratic power, early voting is one of the most important tenets of this guide. Vote.org is one of the best resources to stay informed about early voting in your state (spoiler: some have already started!). 

Voting-by-Mail and GOP Voter Suppression

Lest we forget, Donald Trump’s favorite way to vote is through his Palm Beach mailbox. Despite the blatant hypocrisy, Trump has gone to the courts multiple times to try to restrict mail-in voting for the millions of Americans who rely on this route – an even greater affront to us, while we bear the brunt of Trumpflation.

Trump has also put immense pressure on Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which is his latest voter suppression effort and would require proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or a passport, to vote. While the SAVE America Act faces an uncertain future in Congress, a dozen Republican-led states advanced their own versions of it, including:

• Florida: Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill to require proof of citizenship, stricter ID requirements, and voter list maintenance and removals. 
• Mississippi: Gov. Tate Reeves signed into law the SHIELD Act, which requires proof of citizenship, stricter ID requirements, and voter list maintenance and removals. 
• Utah: Gov. Spencer Cox signed into law a bill that requires proof of citizenship, voter list maintenance and removals, and different standards for voting in federal and state or local elections. 

Ballot Access Protections

Now that the floodgates for racial gerrymandering are wide open after the Callais decision, it is more important than ever to elect Democrats to statehouses across the country so they can push back against GOP power grabs that silence voters, particularly Black voters and communities of color. 

In 2026, more than 400 bills to improve voter access and protect fair elections have been introduced, and more than 50 of these bills have passed in states where Democrats control at least one legislative chamber, according to Voting Rights Lab. State legislatures are on the frontlines of determining what American democracy looks like – who leads our statehouses shapes the trajectory of our country. Democrats believe in free and fair elections; Republicans believe in picking their voters. 

The DLCC’s top priority is electing as many state Democrats across our Target Map, reversing GOP voter suppression tactics, and protecting our democracy. 

Democrats have the momentum on the ground in red, blue, and purple districts unseen before – and we’re going to capitalize on every moment of it. While Republicans attempt to silence voters who have already routinely rejected their leadership (hint: Democrats have flipped 31 seats this cycle; Republicans are still sitting at zero), we’re at an inflection point in our country to reverse course on the widespread attacks on our democratic institutions by Republicans from the White House to the statehouse.