When We All Vote Together includes activations near early vote polling places to give voters the support they need and build momentum around early voting
(Washington, DC): Today, When We All Vote and More Than A Vote announced a new partnership to host the When We All Vote Together Early Vote Weeks of Action (October 18th to 31st) to build momentum and excitement around voting early. During these weeks of action, the organizations will provide information, transportation, food, music, personal protective equipment (PPE) and voter protection support to Americans near early voting sites in cities around the country. Michelle Obama will also launch the #VotingSquad Challenge with When We All Vote’s Co-Chairs to call on more Americans to vote early and safely together.
As a part of the When We All Vote Together Early Vote Weeks of Action, When We All Vote will provide over $1 million in grants and supplies to local partner organizations to host their own activations in communities around the country. Additionally, When We All Vote’s final virtual #CouchParty will take place on October 23rd to encourage and celebrate Americans organizing their #VotingSquad to vote early together.
“Millions of Americans have already cast their ballots and with only 21 days until Election Day, making your plan to vote early is critical. It’s now up to us to do everything in our power to get our friends and family ready to vote early and safely together,” said When We All Vote Co-Chair Michelle Obama. “We can’t leave anyone behind. I’m proud of the work When We All Vote will do with More Than a Vote and our partners to help provide on-the-ground support for Americans who will cast their ballots early.
All in-person events will take place within walking distance of early voting sites, and will include free food from partners including World Central Kitchen, DoorDash and more; music from local DJs; celebrity and athlete appearances; personal protective equipment (PPE); and voter protection support from the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law and the Election Protection Coalition. When We All Vote and More Than A Vote are partnering with Lyft, who will provide discounted rides to help people get to early voting sites.
Additional partners for the Weeks of Action include: BET, Comedy Central, Johnson & Johnson, MTV, National Urban League, Project Isaiah, Radio One, United Way Worldwide, ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge and more. Attendees and staff on the ground will be required to follow all CDC Covid-19 and social distancing protocols.
Studies show that early voting activations and celebrations can help increase turnout by nearly 4 percent. The When We All Vote Together Early Voting Weeks of Action activations include:
- Atlanta, GA: October 24th
- Charlotte, NC: Date forthcoming
- Detroit, MI: October 24th
- Los Angeles, CA: October 24th
- Milwaukee, WI: October 24th
- Orlando, FL: October 24th
- Philadelphia, PA: Date forthcoming
- Virtual #CouchParty: October 23rd
During the Covid-19 pandemic, When We All Vote has fought for safe, fair and accessible elections through three voting principles: expanded access to vote-by-mail, early in-person voting and online voter registration. More than 400,000 people have registered to vote with When We All Vote and more than 25,000 people are Voting Squad Captains mobilizing their communities to make their voices heard in every election.
In August and September, When We All Vote hosted in-person, socially distanced food and voter registration drives in 12 cities across the country where communities received groceries and critical voting information. More Than A Vote led the nationwide effort to convert sports arenas, stadiums, and other large capacity performance venues into safe and convenient in-person voting options that provide for adequate social distancing.
When We All Vote and More Than A Vote have also been committed to recruiting more poll workers to ensure polling places are open and adequately staffed, with the organizations recruiting at least 30,000 people to serve.
All participants will follow social distancing protocols, and volunteers will wear masks and gloves. If individuals do not have a mask, When We All Vote will provide one.
Learn more about the When We All Vote Together Early Vote Weeks of Action and partner events here.
ABOUT When We All Vote:
When We All Vote is a national, nonpartisan nonprofit that brings together citizens, institutions, brands, and organizations to increase participation in every election. Launched by Michelle Obama, the organization is committed to closing the race and age voting gap and empowering all eligible voters to cast their ballot by harnessing grassroots energy, establishing strategic partnerships, and implementing digital organizing strategies, with the ultimate goal of changing the culture around voting.
Michelle Obama is joined in this effort by fellow Co-Chairs Tom Hanks, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monáe, Chris Paul, Faith Hill, Selena Gomez, Liza Koshy, Megan Rapinoe, Shonda Rhimes, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kerry Washington, and Rita Wilson.
In the leadup to the 2018 Midterm Elections, When We All Vote organized over 2,500 local voter registration events across the country, engaged 200 million Americans online about the significance of voting, and texted nearly four million voters the resources to register and get out to vote.
In 2020, When We All Vote is helping to lead in voter education, registration and volunteer engagement. In response to COVID-19, When We All Vote is leading the fight for fair and safe elections by supporting the expansion of access to vote-by-mail, early in-person voting and online voter registration so every American can make their voices heard on Election Day.
ABOUT More Than a Vote:
More Than A Vote is a nonprofit social justice organization founded by Black athletes and artists dedicated to Black political empowerment. In 2020, More Than A Vote is focused on educating, energizing, and protecting Black voters and fighting the lies and systemic, racist voter suppression that stands in the way of Black voices being heard at the ballot box.
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