Talking Points for Lawyers

NOLC has tailored these talking points to help lawyers encourage civic engagement, counter disinformation, and promote the rule of law throughout election season.

Communicating to the public about elections and voting doesn’t have to be difficult, partisan, or contentious. We encourage you to use and expand on the following themes when discussing voting, elections, and democracy-related issues in your community.

PROMOTING CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT

    • Elections lead to policies and laws that affect work, housing, the cost of living, and family life. Don’t leave those decisions to others.

    • Voting is the most effective way to push back against government actions that threaten your rights to speak freely, read what you choose, be secure in your home, or protest in public.

    • Elections give citizens a voice in public decisions like determining funding for schools, public safety, health care, and local regulations.

    • What you feel at the grocery, the kitchen table, at the gas pump, and when looking at your wage check is the consequence of a vote.

    • Voting is the most fundamental right and privilege of citizenship; it is the ultimate protection against despotism and is critical to our everyday freedoms. If your vote didn’t matter, no one would be trying to suppress it or take it from you.

    • The rule of law is the cornerstone of our democracy. It can’t protect us if we don’t vote. It depends on voters choosing leaders who will uphold it.

    • Broad participation strengthens democratic legitimacy and public confidence in our democratic institutions. High participation also makes government decisions harder to ignore and easier to defend. Low voter turnout invites mis- and disinformation, and makes the results easier to dismiss.

    • Voting is how we ensure government officials remain accountable to the Constitution and to the people.

    • The people's surest voice is their vote.

    • Your vote is the ultimate check and balance on power.

    • Your vote is democracy’s best defense.

    • The right to vote “is the most powerful non-violent tool or instrument we have in a democracy.” - Congressman John Lewis

    • You have a constitutional right to vote. Don’t be talked out of it or scared to exercise it.

    • In a constitutional democracy, elections are the last peaceful safeguard against the abuse of government authority. When citizens cannot freely choose their leaders, all other rights are at risk.

COUNTERING SUPPRESSION-ORIENTED MIS- & DISINFORMATION

    • Legal experts from across the political spectrum confirm that existing voting systems, mail-in and absentee ballot verification protocols, and local counting procedures are resilient and sound and that American elections are almost entirely free of fraud.

    • Mail-in ballots are safe and secure. Mail-in voting is bipartisan and voter-verified, with a strict chain of custody. To help counter disinformation casting doubt on the integrity of mail-in voting, download and share this “Mail-In Voting: 9 Must-Know Facts” infographic from the Alliance for American Rule of Law (AAROL).

    • Claims of voting fraud are often an attempt to discourage citizens from voting, spread cynicism and apathy, and falsely cast doubt on election results. These false claims are intended to undermine your vote. The fact is that there have been no election outcomes permanently altered by ballot fraud in modern U.S. History. Read and share AAROL’s “Voter Fraud: 6 Must-Know Facts” infographic that debunks claims of election fraud in the United States.

    • Extraordinary efforts are being made by State and Local Authorities, civic organizations, and legal watchdog groups to monitor elections in 2026 and ensure free and fair elections. Be brave and don’t be discouraged from voting.

    • Rely on trusted sources to verify registration requirements, voting deadlines, and voting dates and locations.

ELEVATING THE RULE OF LAW AS AN ELECTIONS ISSUE

    • The rule of law is not a partisan issue—the rule of law protects us all. To evaluate better understand whether your candidates will stand up for the rule of law, see where they stand on the 10 simple questions included in the Alliance for American Rule of Law’s Rule of Law Voter’s Guide. These questions bring some of the most pressing constitutional issues to the forefront for undecided voters, including election denialism, separation of powers, and judicial independence.

    • Elected and appointed leaders have a duty to uphold the rule of law as part of their service to the American public. Lawyers Defending American Democracy developed a code of 10 Fundamental Values as part of their Guardians of Justice Initiative, encouraging lawyers to step up for public office. Assess if your candidates uphold these 10 Fundamental Values—including protecting the integrity of our justice system, respecting the rights and dignity of every person, and more.

    • “The Rule of Law does not belong to one party. It's not a Republican or Democratic issue. It's not conservative or liberal. The Rule of Law belongs to—and benefits—every American, regardless of how you vote…Our country depends on Americans who, despite our differences, respect our Constitution, our institutions, and our democracy.” – Society for the Rule of Law

    • Americans deserve leaders who will stand up for the rule of law even when it’s difficult or politically inconvenient. This November, Americans should send a resounding message across political divides—the rule of law is non-negotiable.

NONPARTISAN COMMUNICATION TIPS

    • Don’t refer to candidates or parties;

    • Don’t make statements implying one side protects the rule of law or democracy more than another;

    • Don’t urge a “vote to protect X from Y”;

    • Avoid partisan colors, slogans, coded messaging, or word choices; and

    • Avoid sharing candidate scorecards, endorsements, or judicial ratings.