Rev. William Barber Launches 100-Day Voter Mobilization Push Ahead of November Midterms

The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II launched a 100-day voter mobilization campaign on August 6, 2026, marking the 61st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Barber, founder of Repairers of the Breach and architect of the Moral Mondays movement, called for 1,000 marches to the polls across the country before the November 3 midterm elections. He framed the campaign as a nonpartisan moral response to what he described as ongoing threats to voting rights.

"Sixty-one years ago, people bled on a bridge so that every American could vote," Barber said at a press event in Washington. "We are not going to let that sacrifice be undone."

The campaign targets state-level organizing, with a focus on communities that have faced polling place closures, voter ID requirements, and other restrictions. Barber has called on faith leaders, labor unions, and civil rights organizations to join the effort.

The Rev. Tony Lee, lead pastor of Community of Hope AME Church, is coordinating poll chaplain and peacekeeper training as part of the initiative. Lee said the goal is to ensure voters feel safe and supported at the polls.

The Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network are also participating, organizing demonstrations that draw on the legacy of the 1963 March on Washington.

August 6 holds particular significance for voting rights advocates. The Voting Rights Act was signed on that date in 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, following the Selma to Montgomery marches.

Barber has said the campaign will continue through election day, with events planned in more than 30 states.