Where to start on politics: what we’ve written, the numbers and words to know, what to do this month, and the people, organizations and newsrooms worth following.
The Basics
Overview Who gets to vote, how district lines are drawn and which laws get passed decide how much power communities of color actually hold. Politics is more than Election Day. It is the everyday decisions made in city halls, statehouses and Congress, and the organizing that pushes them.
By the Numbers
Why this matters, in three numbers.
One in 22 Black Americans of voting age can't vote because of a felony conviction, more than triple the rate of everyone else. (The Sentencing Project)
The gap between white and nonwhite voter turnout hit 18 percentage points in the 2022 midterms; closing it would have added nearly 14 million ballots from voters of color. (Brennan Center for Justice)
In Alabama, Black voter turnout fell 6 points from 2020 to 2024, while white turnout fell just 1 point. (Brennan Center for Justice)
Voter Suppression — Intentionally making it harder for certain groups of people to vote.
Gerrymandering — Drawing electoral district lines to give one party or group an unfair advantage.
Felony Disenfranchisement — Laws that take away the right to vote from people convicted of felonies.
Take Action
Three things you can do this month.
Call Congress to restore the Voting Rights Act. In April 2026 the Supreme Court gutted a key part of the Voting Rights Act in Louisiana v. Callais. The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 14 / S. 2523) would restore protections; call and say: "I'm a constituent, and I want you to support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act."
Give to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. LDF has fought for Black voters in court for decades, including in the Callais case. A gift supports its voting rights lawyers.
Check your voter registration before Nov. 3. Many states close registration in October for the Nov. 3 midterms. Check yours in two minutes, then text three friends to check theirs.
De facto residential segregation is increasing today, creating segregated hospitals, schools, and transportation systems—the very things permitted by Plessy v. Ferguson.
Defunding the police allows communities to reinvest in other forms of community support while dismantling a system rooted in racism and white supremacy.
These groups are led by people of color and work on politics every day. Follow them for updates and ways to help.
Black Voters Matter Builds Black voter power through grassroots groups, mostly in the South. Visit their website, and follow @blackvotersmtr on Instagram to get updates in your newsfeed.
Voto Latino Registers and mobilizes young Latino voters. Visit their website, and follow @votolatino on Instagram to get updates in your newsfeed.
APIAVote Helps Asian American and Pacific Islander communities vote and get civically involved. Visit their website, and follow @apiavote on Instagram to get updates in your newsfeed.
People to Follow
Organizers, scholars and journalists who know this topic. Follow them to keep learning.
Sherrilyn Ifill Civil rights lawyer and former president of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. She explains what court rulings and new laws mean for Black voters, fast and clearly. Follow them here.
Errin Haines Editor-at-large at The 19th. She covers race, gender and voting, with a focus on Black women voters. Follow @emarvelous on Instagram.
Jamelle Bouie New York Times opinion columnist. He connects today's fights over voting and power to the history of Reconstruction and Jim Crow. Follow @jbouie on Instagram.
Independent Media
Independent newsrooms and newsletters that cover politics often. Read and donate if you can!
Bolts. Local elections and the offices that run policing, courts and voting. Follow @boltsmag on Instagram.
Capital B. Nonprofit Black news outlet covering politics, power and policy. Follow @capitalbnews on Instagram.
Mother Jones. Nonprofit investigative news on politics, voting rights and democracy. Follow @motherjonesmag on Instagram.
A book, a film and a podcast by creators of color to go deeper.
Read: One Person, No Vote by Carol Anderson. How voter ID laws, purges and poll closures have pushed Black voters out since the Voting Rights Act was weakened in 2013.
Watch: All In: The Fight for Democracy by Lisa Cortés and Liz Garbus. The history of voter suppression in the U.S., told through Stacey Abrams's 2018 Georgia race (streaming on Prime Video).
Listen: In Black America by NPR. Long-running public radio interviews on Black life and politics, including a 2026 episode on the Voting Rights Act after Callais.
Talk About It
Not sure how to bring this up with family or coworkers? Try one of these.
Do you know if your voting district changed this year?
Who's on our ballot on Nov. 3 besides Congress, like judges, sheriff or school board?
Did you hear the Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act this spring, and what do you think that means for us?
ps – this is a community-created guide that is updated often. Want to make changes/corrections? Complete this form.
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