With barely a week until Election Day, hundreds of musicians and celebrities are posting photos on social media with the #GoVote hashtag to encourage their followers to vote. The campaign, featuring James Franco, Kings of Leon, Pearl Jam, Russell Simmons, Conan O’Brien and Zoe Kravitz, is organized by the non-partisan group HeadCount.org. Each post drives voters to the organization’s website for information on early voting, polling place locations and state ballot initiatives.
View Rolling Stone’s coverage of the #GoVote campaign HERE. Additional photos available HERE, with new photos being posted every day.
In each photo, the entertainer holds a piece of artwork that says #GoVote, or a placard with a snappy saying about voting. Stephen Colbert’s says “Vote – the safe legal way to overthrow the government.” Brandi Carlile declares “I [heart] Girls who Vote.” Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead says “Bad Politicians are elected by good people who don’t vote.
The #GoVote campaign follows a record-breaking year registering voters for HeadCount. Using social media and concerts as vehicles to reach Millennials, HeadCount registered more than 150,000 new voters for this election – a 40% increase compared with 2012 – and staged voter registration drives at more than 1,500 live music events.
The organization has partnered with Pandora, MTV, Ben & Jerry’s, D’Angelico Guitars and Billboard in various capacities this year, and was embedded on national tours by Dixie Chicks, Dave Matthews Band, Warped Tour, Phish and Dead & Co. HeadCount will continue to be a presence at concerts right up to Election Day, driving voter turnout by handing out cell phone wallets stuffed with voter information guides.
On election night, they’ll cap off the year by hosting a first-of-its-kind concert called “Soundtrack to History,” presented by Magic Hat Brewing Company, at Brooklyn Bowl in New York City.
As the polls begin to close on Tuesday, Nov. 8th, and election returns are revealed on giant video screens throughout the venue, an all-star band called Everyone Orchestra will live jam to the election results. Everyone Orchestra’s Matt Butler will conduct the musical adventure with Steve Kimock, members of the Disco Biscuits (Marc Brownstein and Aron Magner), moe. (Vinnie Amico), Snarky Puppy (Jay Jennings and Chris Bullock), Big Gigantic (Jeremy Salken), Trey Anastasio Band (Natalie Cressman), Jans Ingber (formerly of The Motet), and Mihali Savoulidis of Twiddle. Additional special guests will be announced.
The festivities begin at 8PM. Tickets are $25 for general admission, $75 for VIP and $250 for Benefactor, and are on sale now brooklynbowl.com.
www.HeadCount.org
https://www.facebook.com/HeadCountOrg
https://twitter.com/headcountorg
