Election News
Michelle Obama Will Headline An Atlanta Rally Aimed At Boosting Voter Turnout
Washington — Former First Lady Michelle Obama will headline a rally in Atlanta a week before the November 5 election, alongside celebrities and civic leaders, aimed at reaching younger and first-time voters, as well as voters of color.
The event on October 29 will be held by When We All Vote, a nonpartisan civic engagement organization launched by Obama in 2018 to “change the culture around voting” and reach out to people who are less inclined to participate in politics and elections.
The rally is likely to benefit Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential hopeful, in a hotly contested state. Obama, one of the party’s most well-known figures, spoke at the national convention in August to support Harris’ candidacy.
Michelle Obama Will Headline An Atlanta Rally Aimed At Boosting Voter Turnout
It is unclear which celebrities will attend the rally, but organizers have stated that the group’s co-chairs include professional basketball players Stephen Curry and Chris Paul; musical artists Becky G, H.E.R., Selena Gomez, Jennifer Lopez, and Janelle Monáe; beauty influencer Bretman Rock; and actors Tom Hanks, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Kerry Washington.
The organization has conducted over 500 “Party at the Polls” events across the country to increase voter registration and turnout. Over the last year, events have included pop-up block parties in Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Philadelphia, as well as voter registration partnerships with professional sports leagues and music festivals.
“The goal is to take the energy and momentum from the rally to the ballot box,” stated Beth Lynk, executive director of When We All Vote. “We want to bring the culture, the energy and the momentum together in one big space.”
Michelle Obama Will Headline An Atlanta Rally Aimed At Boosting Voter Turnout
Lynk explained that the group chose Atlanta due to the state’s diversity and the impact that simply a few voters may have in Georgia. Approximately one-third of Georgia’s electorate is Black, with fast-expanding Asian American and Latino populations. Lynk explained that When We All Vote aims to engage college students on campuses in the metropolitan Atlanta area.
“We’ve heard from young voters that many of them do not believe their votes have any power. But they do, plain and simple,” Lynk explained. “We know that democracy has to work for all of us and that’s what we will be stressing at this rally.”
SOURCE | AP
