Your nightmare midterm scenario is already keeping the ACLU’s Molly Jean McGrath up at night.

“If you are like me and you wake up at 3 in the morning thinking about something that could happen this election cycle, I promise you that the ACLU has contemplated it,” McGrath said to URL’s We The Many. “We are ready.” 

In fact, she (and the ACLU) have already imagined the worst, planning for at least 25 potential election disasters that could come before, during, and after the election. 

Still, she wants you to keep the ACLU’s election protection helpline number handy (866-OUR-VOTE) just in case.

“Help is just a phone call away if somebody forgets what their polling location is or whatever the situation is,” “People are ready to help to make sure that somebody can vote.”

McGrath, the ACLU’s director of national democracy campaigns, sat down with We The Many’s Danielle Belton to discuss the concerns many voters of color may have going into this midterm. From the safety of mail-in ballots to government agents at the polls, McGrath assured Belton that the ACLU and its partners have this election covered.

We The Many: There’s been a lot of drama around mail-in voting and absentee ballots. What should voters know considering the recent Supreme Court decisions and what the White House has been saying? What is real?

Molly Jean McGrath: Let me tell you that vote by mail is alive and well. Any effort that this administration has tried to put on limits to vote by mail this election are not in place. There’s a chance that maybe a state law changed in someone’s specific state, and voting laws are different in every state, so it’s always important that voters check what’s new in their state. But vote by mail is and continues to be a trusted and important way for voters to vote. And attempts by this administration to change that have failed this election. 

What we know is what they’re trying to do is to confuse us out of voting, to intimidate us out of voting, to deter us from voting. And it’s not going to work. We’re hearing from voters that they are determined to vote now more than ever. 

We The Many: There are a lot of fears that there could be some type of government agent at the polls. What should voters know?

Molly Jean McGrath: One, we want them to know that they have the right to vote free from intimidation. Period. Voter intimidation is illegal. Voters are protected by law, by federal law, when it comes to voter intimidation, and many state laws also have laws on the books when it comes to voter intimidation. 

Second of all, there are absolutely legal protections. Federal troops, armed federal troops, are prohibited from being at polling locations. So, there’s a slew of laws that protect voters.

Third, we’re rising to the occasion. The ACLU’s volunteers and voters alike are all rising to the occasion to ensure that voters know what they need, but also, we will be at polling locations. 

The ACLU, along with partners, are training thousands of volunteers across the country to be monitors at polling locations in the unlikely chance that something happens at somebody’s polling location. So, we’ll be there and able to alert folks to take action when and if something happens. We want voters to know that there are many laws that protect them, that groups like the ACLU will be there. 

Essentially, people have their back.

Fourth, I would say there’s ways to get involved. We have been doing regular Know Your Rights trainings to ensure that voters know their rights to vote free from intimidation and what to do in the unlikely chance that something does happen.

We The Many: What should voters do if they see something concerning or suspicious?

Molly Jean McGrath: Stay safe, tell an election official, document what is happening if they’re safe to do so. Folks can attend these (Know Your Rights) trainings, share these trainings, and get the word out about what their rights are and what to do. And then also voters should check into what different methods that they have to vote in their state.

Also, vote as early as possible. Vote by mail if that’s available and get your ballot back as early as possible. 

We The Many: What advice do you have for voters who have to vote in person on Nov. 3rd?

Molly Jean McGrath: One, make that plan for election day to make sure it fits with your work schedule. Whether before work or after work, have everything that you need to be able to get there on election day. Check what you need for your state. If you’re registered, check your registration well ahead of time. If your state has same-day registration. 

Make a plan for what you’ll need on Election Day. 

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

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