Moments to Watch in 2024
With a high-stakes presidential election, several critical cases before the Supreme Court, and anti-voter laws on the rise across, 2024 is set to be a pivotal year for our democracy. Here are a few events we’re marking on our calendars as we gear up for the changes ahead.
January – June: Primary and Caucus Season
Before every presidential election come the state primaries and caucuses, where state parties determine the candidates they’ll support. 2024’s season kicked off on January 15 with the Iowa Republican caucus and will wrap up on June 4 with primaries in the District of Columbia, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota.
One day of note is March 5, or “Super Tuesday,” when Alabama, Arkansas, Alaska, California, Colorado, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia will all host primary or caucus elections.
Check when your primary or caucus is happening at VOTE411.org. You can also use VOTE411 to find state and local elections and events year-round.
January – June: SCOTUS 2024 Term
The issues at stake in this year’s decisions range from medication abortion to social media to firearm restrictions.
At the League, we’re paying particularly close attention to the racial gerrymandering case Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP. The case centers around the claim that districts in South Carolina were racially gerrymandering, violating the US Constitution. Both the League of Women Voters of South Carolina and LWVUS filed amicus briefs urging the Supreme Court to affirm that South Carolina’s first congressional District is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. A decision is expected imminently.
March 2 – 3: The Selma Jubilee
Civil and voting rights activists from across the nation will convene in Selma, Alabama to commemorate the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, the Selma to Montgomery voting rights march, and the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
The Selma 59th Anniversary Jubilee will feature dozens of events, including educational tours and workshops, cultural festivities and performances, social justice discussions, and a commemorative march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The national and Alabama Leagues will attend for the third year in a row, proudly standing alongside our partners in a celebration of voting rights.
March 7: The State of the Union, the Anniversary of Bloody Sunday, and the Anniversary of President Biden’s Executive Order on Voting Rights
March 7 is a jam-packed day for democracy.
In the evening, President Biden will deliver his State of the Union Address. The State of the Union is a chance for him to speak directly to the people about the issues impacting our nation, such as threats to democracy and the curtailing of reproductive freedoms.
This day also marks 59 years since Bloody Sunday (see above) and three years since President Biden’s executive order on voting rights. Bloody Sunday was one of the most important days in the history of US voting rights, as it brought national attention to racial violence and discrimination that catalyzed the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
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In another memorable anniversary, President Biden’s 2021 executive order directed federal agencies to develop plans promoting voter registration and participation, an important step during his first 100 days in office.
July 15 – 18: Republican National Convention
The Republican Party will select their presidential nominee at their convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin this July.
August 1: Poll Worker Recruitment Day
Smooth, accessible elections depend on election workers!
Volunteering is a great way to support your community while learning more about the democratic process. Sign up to be a poll worker today!
Curious what a day in the life of a poll worker can look like? Check out this blog from Pennsylvania League member Mary Roche.
August 19 – 22: Democratic National Convention
The Democratic Party will select its presidential nominee at its convention in Chicago, Illinois, this August.
September 17: National Voter Registration Day
National Voter Registration Day (NVRD) was first celebrated in 2012; since then, more than five million voters have registered on this nonpartisan holiday.
With as many as 1 in 4 eligible voters not being registered, it’s crucial that we go empower our communities not only to register but to check and update their registration through tools like VOTE411.
LWV is proud to be an on-the-ground partner of NVRD; in 2023, we hosted 500+ events across the nation and registered an estimated 100,000 voters.
Learn more about NVRD or reach out to your local League to get involved in registration efforts year-round.
Register voters in your community!
September – October: Debate Season
Candidate debates are a priceless opportunity to hear directly from the candidates on the issues we care about, such as jobs, health care, and affordable housing.
State and local debates happen all year long, but it’s worth noting the following presidential and vice-presidential debate nights:
- September 16: General Election Presidential Debate at Texas State University
- September 25: Vice Presidential Debate at Lafayette College
- October 1: General Election Presidential Debate at Virginia State University
- October 9: General Election Presidential Debate at the University of Utah
October 29: Vote Early Day
Vote Early Day is a nonpartisan movement focused on empowering every voter with information on how they can vote early.
Voting early can be a great option whether you need flexibility in your schedule, want to avoid Election Day crowds, or are just excited to cast your ballot! Yet early voting rules vary from state to state, which can make the process confusing.
Vote Early Day is the perfect time to explore and share your early voting options with your community.
November 5: Election Day
You probably saw this one coming. On November 5, millions of voters will vote in our 2024 presidential election.
This will be the first presidential election following the January 6 insurrection and the overturning of Roe v. Wade. It comes at a time when our democracy is under threat from anti-voter legislation, rising mis- and disinformation, and bad actors who hope to decrease confidence in our elections.
It’s critical that we all make our voices heard. Find your election location, registration deadlines, and other rules at VOTE411.org.
November 6: Election Hero Day
As the presidential election results are tallied, we take a moment to thank the election administration teams, poll workers, and more who make voting possible. Election Hero Day is a great time to express gratitude to the election volunteers in your life — and to consider how you can become one next year!
Mark the above days on your calendar so you can empower voters and defend democracy throughout 2024!
The Latest from the League
Caucuses "are meetings run by political parties that are held at the county, district, or precinct level." In the months before a presidential election, several states hold caucuses where candidates vie for party support. Caucus participants then vote for the candidates they support; the number of votes each candidate receives determines how many party “delegates” will be sent to support that candidate at the party’s convention.
When you vote for the President of the United States, you are not voting directly for a candidate. Instead, your vote — and the votes of everyone else in your state — directs the votes of the people who vote directly for President: presidential electors, otherwise known as members of the Electoral College.
This blog, and those that will follow, will explain how the Electoral College works, the history of the Electoral College — including its racist origins — and why it must be abolished.
The League is invested in and carefully watching an important redistricting case, Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP. The case is an appeal from a ruling striking down South Carolina’s congressional map as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.
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