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Currently, abortion bans remain in place in more than a dozen states – impacting more than 20 million people who could be denied life saving care. That's why, as a nationwide organization, our staff is committed to continuing to help organize across the country. In preparation for Ohio’s critical vote to protect abortion rights, ACLU-DE staff members Andrew Bernstein and Vonderlear Smack (Vonda) were on the ground helping the ACLU Ohio team and other community organizers ensure Ohio voters were able to cast their ballots confidently this Election Day. The motivation was simple: a win for Ohioans is a win for Delawareans.
In the week leading up to the election, Andrew and Vonda spent hours each day out in the community alongside ACLU staff and volunteers from different states knocking doors, phone banking, and engaging voters in conversations about why reproductive freedom is an important issue in their lives. After a week of these grassroots “get out the vote” efforts, Election Day in Ohio came to a victorious close with Ohioans voting overwhelmingly in favor of Issue 1, the state constitutional amendment to enshrine the right to make their own decisions about pregnancy, including miscarriage, birth control, and abortion care, in state law for generations to come.
We talked with Andrew and Vonda about their experience contributing to this historic victory for abortion rights, and the lessons they will be applying to their organizing and advocacy work here in Delaware.
“My greatest takeaway from the trainings we attended was gaining valuable insight into how organizing helps us win elections,” said Vonda, Campaign Manager at ACLU-DE, “When you get people talking, it’s clear that they are very motivated and eager to fight for their constitutional rights.”
ACLU staff and volunteers knocked on 10,931 doors throughout the week, approximately 44% of the total doors knocked.
“On top of securing a fundamental right for Ohioans, the week of action also allowed organizers and strategists from across the country to come together and share and learn from each other,” said Andrew Bernstein, Cozen Voting Rights Fellow at ACLU-DE. “I had the privilege of working alongside colleagues who have been at the forefront of organizing in states that are facing different issues than we are here in Delaware, but whose experiences and knowledge will only strengthen my own approaches.”
Andrew and Vonda both recognized the unity that comes from being a part of a nationwide organization.
“The welcome, love, and passion makes any ACLU environment invigorating,” Vonda added, “When we all come together to work towards a victory for our partners, that’s when the whole movement progresses.”
“The welcome, love, and passion makes any ACLU environment invigorating,” Vonda added, “When we all come together to work towards a victory for our partners, that’s when the whole movement progresses.”
They return to Delaware ahead of the state’s 2024 legislative session, prepared to transform what they’ve learned from Ohio to work in Delaware.
“To sum up how I feel now that I’m back home and ready to get to work, I’d say inspired and empowered,” said Vonda, who leads ACLU-DE’s Smart Justice Campaign, focused on making probation reform a top priority this year. “Last year was a tough fight for our probation work, but we still took important steps forward. After being in Ohio, I feel more confident than ever that strong community organizing is what will get us over the finish line.”
For Andrew, lead on ACLU-DE’s voting rights work, eyes are already on getting out the vote for the 2024 election season. “It’s about the long-term strategy, working with partners statewide to engage voters year-round and ensuring that they feel connected to their larger communities and the issues on the ballot,” he said. “It’s time to bring the momentum from Ohio home to Delaware in 2024.”