Photos: Facebook|Wikimedia Commons
Washington, DC – On Tuesday, September 15, hundreds of organizers, voting rights advocates, election workers and community leaders from across the country will gather on Capitol Hill for the “Hands Off Our Elections” rally and national day of action, organized by Popular Democracy and People’s Action. Held on National Voter Registration Day, the mobilization will call on Congress to defend the 2026 midterm elections from voter suppression, intimidation and federal interference. The Washington action is part of broader organizing and training underway around the country to prepare communities to protect the vote ahead of November.
Rep. Analilia Mejia (NJ), Sen. Chris Van Hollen (MD), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA), Rep. Emily Randall (WA), Sen. Jeff Merkley (OR) and other elected leaders will join organizers at the noon rally and press conference in support of efforts to protect free and fair elections. At the rally, Mejia will announce and introduce a new House resolution affirming Congress’ commitment to defend the 14th and 15th Amendments and oppose voter intimidation, voter suppression and interference with free and fair elections.
The resolution calls on Congress and the federal government to protect voting and constitutional rights ahead of the midterms, including by opposing the deployment of troops, armed federal agents or immigration enforcement personnel at or near polling places; calling on the Department of Homeland Security to commit in writing that ICE will not conduct operations at or near polling places; opposing the creation of a federal database of confidential voter-registration information; and rejecting attempts to use emergency or immigration-enforcement authority to interfere with voting.
The full language of Rep. Mejia’s resolution is included below.
The action comes as the Trump administration escalates efforts to interfere with how Americans vote by mail. Popular Democracy is warning that these efforts, along with the Supreme Court’s April 2026 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais gutting Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, could create new barriers for eligible voters and sow confusion ahead of the midterms. Advocates will gather in D.C. to announce their plans to inform communities on how to prepare ahead of Early Voting and Election Day.
Organizers are calling on voters to check their registration, know voting and mail-ballot deadlines, understand changes to election rules, make a plan to vote early when possible, and know their rights if they encounter intimidation or barriers at the polls.
At the noon rally and press conference, speakers will also sound the alarm about the potential deployment of ICE or other federal law enforcement around polling places, particularly in immigrant communities where their presence could intimidate eligible voters.
The rally is part of a three-day national election protection mobilization where participants will receive trainings to build the national infrastructure needed to educate, protect and turn out voters across the country. Following the rally, participants will take their demands directly to Congress, meeting with lawmakers and their staffs and calling on them to protect the 2026 elections from federal interference and voter intimidation.
EVENT DETAILS
WHO: Popular Democracy, People’s Action, Popular Democracy affiliates, Rep. Analilia Mejia (NJ), Sen. Chris Van Hollen (MD), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA), Rep. Emily Randall (WA), Sen. Jeff Merkley (OR), other elected officials, frontline organizers, voting rights advocates, election workers, faith and civil-rights leaders, and community members from across the country, including AZ, TX, ME, NH, FL, OH, NY, NJ, PA, MD, AK, NV, MI, MO, IN and IA.
WHAT: “Hands Off Our Elections” Rally & Press Conference, followed by a Capitol Hill lobby day calling on Congress to protect the 2026 midterm elections
WHEN: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET
WHERE: Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
Section 11 of Capitol Grounds (Independence Ave. SE & First Street SE)
