Protect Democracy

Protect Democracy is a nonpartisan nonprofit founded in 2016 that works to protect democratic institutions in the United States from authoritarianism. Its methods span public-interest litigation, legislative advocacy, policy work, research, strategic communications, coalition building and civic technology development, operating at both federal and state levels. The organisation has filed more than 100 lawsuits challenging authoritarian actions.

The group employs more than 130 staff and experts across a multidisciplinary team of policy specialists, lawyers, technologists and advocates. Its technology work includes election monitoring, data analysis and research, and software tool development. A nonprofit technology startup arm within the organisation built VoteShield, an election monitoring platform that has won awards for its work.

Protect Democracy describes itself as cross-ideological, with team members who identify as conservative, moderate and progressive and who have served under both Democratic and Republican administrations. Its stated commitment is to defending the rule of law and democratic principles irrespective of political outcome, and it values active civic participation and vigilance against democratic decline.