Every month, we give the Amicus Mundi Award to an outstanding lawyer in our community who exemplifies our shared values of service and dedication to building a more just and equitable society. This month’s award recipient has tirelessly devoted herself to voter protection, volunteering hundreds of hours to ensure that a vote cast is a vote counted.
Join us in saying…
Congratulations, JoAnne Klabin!
An Asset to Voters: JoAnne Klabin is a powerhouse of volunteerism. An exemplary leader with the national nonpartisan voter hotline (866-OUR-VOTE), she has completed nearly 200 shifts since 2020, dedicating over 800 hours to assisting voters and supporting fellow hotline volunteers.
Jo has been promoted within the Election Protection volunteer structure twice and now serves at the highest level of leadership.
As a captain, JoAnne is the backbone of the hotline, directly supporting volunteers as they assist voters. She has gone above and beyond by single-handedly writing extensive updates on materials for Hawaii, becoming the go-to expert on that state.
Katharine Fullenkamp, Election Protection Legal Analyst at Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, says, “JoAnne is deeply invested in protecting the right to vote. She is a major asset to the program and the voters of our country.”
Living Out Her Values: JoAnne has a deep history of service. She inherited her commitment to volunteerism from her father, who she describes as a lifelong learner and a committed volunteer.
She explains, “This work has allowed me to learn new facets of law and has given me the chance to act out a perfect combination of the values that he passed on to me.”
Katharine adds, “JoAnne takes her volunteer duties very seriously and frequently checks in with staff and fellow leaders to make sure everything is handled correctly.”
Protecting the Vote: The national, nonpartisan Election Protection coalition, of which We The Action is a partner, provides Americans from coast to coast with comprehensive information and assistance at all stages of voting – from registration, to absentee and early voting, to casting a vote at the polls, to overcoming obstacles to their participation.
Election Protection helps voters make sure their vote is counted through a number of resources, including the 866-OUR VOTE hotline.
The year-round hotline is staffed by trained legal volunteers, many of whom come from We The Action.
Your Chance to Get Involved: The Lawyers’ Committee is still looking for legal volunteers to serve as captains for the national voter hotline. Volunteers have access to state-specific voter guides and training, and all volunteering is done remotely.
JoAnne encourages other lawyers to apply to be a captain. She says, “This is an incredible, supportive community. Plus, it's not very often that you have the opportunity to do something that has as much of an impact on somebody as easing their path to voting.”
She continues, “There are so many amazing people doing this work. There are hundreds of other people who should be recognized for their volunteer work along with me.”
To be like JoAnne, apply to be a captain and help protect the vote by signing up here. For more election-related volunteer opportunities, check out this Voter Protection Guide.