When I was growing up, musicians and other celebrities used the Rock the Vote campaign to urge young people to register to vote—and, of course, to head to their local polling places on Election Day to have their voices heard.
Today, with social media and technology at the heart of just about everything we do, musicians and celebrities are finding new ways to encourage people to vote, especially with a presidential election on the horizon Nov. 3.
#iVoted is an initiative founded by entrepreneur Emily White, Mike Luba, and Pat Sansone of Wilco and The Autumn Defense to increase voter turnout.
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In 2018 #iVoted activated more than 150 venues in 37 states to let fans into venues on Nov. 6, 2018 (the United States’ national election night), who showed a photo of themselves outside of their polling place.
For Election Night 2020, more than 500 artists and counting will be performing via webcast in support of voter turnout via #iVoted, keeping the mission of voter turnout alive in a socially distant environment.
The movement is not only the largest music “festival” of the year, but is also expected to smash the record for the largest single night digital concert in history.
Inside #iVoted 2020 Music Festival
Announced artists for #iVoted 2020 include: Joshua Radin, Phantom Planet, Emma Charles, The Imaginaries, Sam Varga, 3OH!3, Greensky Bluegrass, Young the Giant, W. Kamau Bell, Living Colour, Citizen Cope, Drive-By Truckers, grandson, Brian Courtney Wilson, Joywave and Jukebox the Ghost.
Others expected to perform include My Brightest Diamond, The Dresden Dolls, The Polyphonic Spree, Vacationer, Yonder Mountain String Band, Geographer, Saves the Day, Taking Back Sunday, an exclusive appearance by Olympic Gold Medalist Anthony Ervin and more.
Those who are interested in being part of the #iVoted 2020 festival should RSVP for free concert(s) by sending a selfie from outside their polling place or anywhere else with a blank ballot in their hands.
Fans who aren’t U.S. citizens or are outside of the U.S. will be able to RSVP as well. Sign up for the organization’s email list via their website to be alerted when the RSVP system goes live in the coming weeks.
Even though politics seems to divide people more than ever today, music has a special way of bringing people together. And even though the coronavirus pandemic is making it tough to bring big crowds into one venue, the show must go on—and the presidential election too.
Whether you’re voting to keep President Donald Trump in office or support his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, or anyone else, make sure you cast your ballot on Election Day and then check out the #iVoted 2020 festival to blow off a little steam among the political rhetoric.
