Type: Statement

Today, Joe Biden was projected the winner of the 2020 presidential election. He will serve as the 46th president of the United States, and Kamala Harris will be the first Black and South Asian woman to serve as vice president. The fact that we have a projected winner today in light of the unprecedented challenges we have faced as a nation demonstrates the resilience of our democratic institutions and the successful execution of our electoral process.

Our nation’s ability to run an election amid a global pandemic was not a foregone conclusion just a few days ago. It is remarkable that this election proceeded with few reports of issues in election administration and limited instances of the violence we feared. Most notably, it is worth celebrating that more than 150 million Americans exercised their right to vote — many for the first time — resulting in a once-in-a-century level of turnout. And despite political pressure, it is a testament to the endurance of our democracy that all of their votes are being counted. 

These remarkable accomplishments are due to the tireless efforts of dedicated public servants and civil society groups who have worked against all of the odds to ensure the integrity of our electoral systems, improve voter access, and inspire the public to get engaged. We also cannot overstate how important it is that hundreds of thousands of Americans, particularly Black and Brown women, answered the call to serve their democracy as organizers, volunteers, and poll workers. We are incredibly grateful to all of our grantees who made this possible, and look forward to celebrating their hard work in the coming weeks and months. 

But despite these accomplishments, the results of this election have not brought the threats to our democracy to an end — in many ways, this election has revealed the true depths of the challenges we face.

The rhetoric coming from President Trump and his supporters baselessly questioning the validity of this election are appalling and undemocratic. Their worst rhetoric — challenging votes from historically disenfranchised communities for extra scrutiny — requires swift and strong condemnation. With no credible evidence of fraud to date, the myriad legal challenges brought forth are unlikely to change the outcome. They are instead intended to foment public unrest and  to undermine the long-term health of our democratic institutions.  

Americans must refute these efforts. Leaders within both parties and within the media – along with trusted nonpartisan leaders within our religious, business, and veteran communities – must work to assure voters of the facts in order to facilitate a peaceful transition of power. 

It is time to begin to repair the damage done by an administration bent on tearing down democratic norms and questioning our foundational institutions. We now have an opportunity to create a democracy worthy of the trust of every American and shift the underlying, toxic dynamics that have poisoned our political system. From the federal government to the local level, we must undertake a new era of reforms to foster effective, inclusive government institutions able to deliver for the American people. 

Make no mistake: creating a more open and just democracy remains an enormous undertaking. We must not be daunted, but let the urgency of this moment energize and focus us for the work ahead.

This election season brought unprecedented turnout across the country. Millions of voters cast their ballots through early voting, vote-by-mail, and yesterday, at the polls. They turned out  despite a global pandemic that required new processes and protocols. Moreover, with the support of thousands of election officials and volunteers, early reports suggest the country had a relatively smooth Election Day, without widespread intimidation, interference, or administrative problems. 

But we do not yet know who will occupy the White House, nor who will hold many congressional, state, and local positions across the country. Now is the time to count every vote and listen to the voice of every voter. Politicians — including President Trump — have had their say over many months, but now the will of the American people must be heard.

Authoritarian calls to end counting of legitimate ballots have no place in our democracy. The President’s calls to do so undermine the will of the people and violate a basic principle of democracy. But this moment is what many experts, civic organizations, and media have spent months preparing for. We remain confident the system was built for this moment. 

The two most important things Americans can do over the next 24 hours are: 

• Be patient and let every vote be counted: A core principle of American democracy is that we choose our leaders – our leaders do not choose their voters. We must be patient and count every vote because every vote counts. 
• Support and trust election officials: These state and local civil servants have been administering elections for years. We must give them time to count every vote and verify the results.

We’re going to know a lot more in the next few days. There are thousands of civic leaders and democracy champions — including highly qualified election officials — who are ensuring this process proceeds according to our highest democratic ideals. The campaigns can say what they want, but the votes of the American people will determine who takes office in January. Alongside our partners, Democracy Fund will be working until the final hour to ensure every vote is counted and the American people have the final say.