Midterms 2026: How the Fight for Black Enfranchisement Applies 100 Years Later

Amid a sea of alarming headlines, waning government accountability, and militarization on the streets that once connected us, there is one word that unites us all: action. 

This year, American voters have the opportunity to gather the remaining threads of democracy and weave together a tapestry of change — if we can muster the courage and the agency to do so. With a series of state primaries coming up over the next few months and the midterm elections slated for Nov. 3, it is crucial to know your rights and why it is important to exercise them. 

During Black History Month and beyond, we can learn from the robust history of Black changemakers who defied the status quo and petitioned for universal civil rights.  

Ida B. Wells was a prolific investigative journalist, civil rights activist, and suffragette who exposed the violent reality of Black Americans in the Jim Crow South. In her article, “How Enfranchisement Stops Lynchings” (1910), published in Original Rights Magazine, Wells used the guiding principles in the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence to advocate for the Black vote. Wells explained that the power of the Black ballot could shatter violent systems and elect competent leaders.

“Therefore, the more complete the disfranchisement, the more frequent and horrible has been the hangings, shootings, and burnings.”

When white supremacists called the Black vote a threat to their way of life, Wells refused to back down.

A century later, white supremacists are still singing the same tune about Black folks, immigrants, and the current administration’s dissidents. The hundred-year-old question still stands: Will we respond to the nationwide plight with fear, or resistance?

This year, congressional leaders and local representatives are not the only big-ticket items on the ballot; it’s our resolve to safeguard our rights and participate in a democracy we refuse to see the current presidential administration attack. Midterm years represent more than checking off a ballot and crossing your fingers for your first choice; they stoke action toward civic engagement and meaningful protest.

A vote today is a promise for the future, binding civic leaders and community members, young and old, people of all races and backgrounds, those with citizenship status and those without, to a commitment for lasting change. 

Click the link below to view your state’s upcoming elections:

https://www.usvotefoundation.org/state-election-dates-and-deadlines 

Click the link below to register to vote:

https://www.usvotefoundation.org/vote/register-to-vote