Meet our Election Protection Hub director!

Jenny Holmes’ career has been focused on making life more fair and affordable for historically marginalized communities across the country. In her recent role as deputy director of litigation at the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. (also called the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, or LDF), she was instrumental to the organization’s economic justice litigation strategy, which included combating housing and employment discrimination, predatory lending practices, and rollbacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). At LDF, she also led cases on voting rights and educational equity, litigating on behalf of voters across trial and appellate courts, all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court.

This work has informed her understanding of how economic security, civil rights, and pro-democracy work all intersect to create a foundation for a strong, multiracial society. She now brings her wide-ranging experience to serve as director of Public Rights Project’s Election Protection Hub.

Q. What was a formative moment in your early career?

When I went to law school, I was really interested in international human rights, but admittedly, my understanding of the issue was a little abstract. After volunteering at a legal clinic and volunteering on behalf of local clients with low income, I realized how great the need for civil and human rights advocacy was right at home. Helping people in my community defend against evictions, expunge convictions from their records so they could secure employment, and combat wage theft left a big impact on me. I could see the immediate impacts of my work.

This work also instilled in me the importance of approaching clients as equal partners. Attorneys might have the legal expertise, but clients have valuable knowledge that can only come from their lived experience.

Q. Who among your clients has inspired you?

In Florida, I litigated a case to restore voting rights to people with prior felony convictions upon the completion of their sentences, based on a state constitutional amendment that two-thirds of Florida voters supported. The state legislature had tried to limit the number of people who would be re-enfranchised by instituting what amounted to a poll tax — making voting rights restoration contingent on payment of criminal fines and fees.

While we won at many stages of the case, we ultimately lost in the appellate court. But one of my clients — a woman who still cannot vote because she has an unaffordable $50,000 fine on her record — became an organizer on this issue. She now helps people regain their right to vote by navigating the complex system of paying their fines and fees and then registering to vote. It’s a reminder of the power and resiliency of ordinary people to transcend the limits of our court system.

Q. What drew you to the work of the Election Protection Hub?

In 2021, a voter suppression bill passed in Texas. The law instituted a series of measures such as limiting mail and curbside voting, and imposing onerous requirements and criminal penalties on people assisting voters who may need help due to language limitations or disability.

We brought a lawsuit challenging many aspects of this law, on behalf of Black voters and voters with disabilities. The star witnesses in this case? Local election officials, who shared what they had done to improve voter access and provided expert knowledge about the practicalities of election administration. I could tell the judge found their testimony very compelling. This made me realize how important it was to include local election officials in the fight for voting rights. That is why I was attracted to EPH’s unique model of partnering with and providing legal assistance to local election officials to defend the fundamental right to vote and safeguard free and fair elections.

Q. What gives you hope for the future of American democracy?

The people and nonprofits that support pro-democracy work are working so tirelessly and passionately behind the scenes. This collaboration is what will save our democracy and allow us to collectively dream of the future we want — so that we can not only defend our democracy against threats, but also build a stronger one that works for everyone.

In the meantime, this fight won’t be linear — and our wins won’t always be reflected in headlines or Supreme Court decisions. But the hard work and dedication found in our coalitions and among our local government partners make me hopeful that we are building toward a better future that truly lives up to the promises of our country.