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lots more: www.whenweallvote.org/press/

When We All Vote
April 13, 2020

When We All Vote Announces Push for Safe, Secure and Accessible Elections by Expanding Vote-by-Mail, Early Voting and Online Voter Registration

Washington, DC: Today, Michelle Obama’s nonpartisan voting initiative, When We All Vote, announced its support for expanded access to vote-by-mail, early in-person voting and online voter registration to promote fair and safe access to the 2020 primary and general elections amid COVID-19’s ongoing impact. Every American deserves the right to cast their ballot safely and without unnecessary risk.

“Americans should never have to choose between making their voices heard and keeping themselves and their families safe. We know that barriers to voting existed before this crisis, especially for young people and communities of color. Expanding access to vote-by-mail, online voter registration and early voting are critical steps for this moment— and they’re long overdue. There is nothing partisan about striving to live up to the promise of our country; making the democracy we all cherish more accessible; and protecting our neighbors, friends and loved ones as they participate in this cornerstone of American life,” said When We All Vote Co-Chair Michelle Obama.

“If the U.S. expects to lead the world in conducting free and fair elections, then we owe it to our citizens to do everything in our power to make sure our elections are safe and fair for everyone. Our mission as an organization is to change the culture around voting and help increase voter participation in every election by closing the race and age gap. So it’s our responsibility to help all voters exercise their right to vote, and to give them the best information on exactly how to do that. It’s also our responsibility to advocate for fair and safe access to our elections,” said Valerie Jarrett, When We All Vote Board Chair.

When We All Vote recently announced its support for the Natural Disaster and Emergency Ballot Act of 2020, which represents the organization’s first time supporting federal legislation. The reforms in the bill are aligned with When We All Vote’s three voting principles:

Expand Access to Vote-by-Mail

Vote-by-mail could be the only safe and secure option for some Americans. Voters should have more options to request, receive and return mail-in ballots and postage should be free or prepaid. Vote-by-mail would allow eligible voters to cast and return their ballot from the safety and convenience of their home. States should offer more options to request, receive and return mail-in ballots in a safe and secure way and expand deadlines for ballots to be requested and received. Currently, five states conduct all elections entirely by mail and twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia offer no-excuse absentee voting.

Expand Early In-Person Voting 

While many Americans should have the choice to vote-by-mail, it is crucial to still provide in-person voting options, making them as safe and available as possible. The number of people voting early more than doubled between 2004 and 2016 – from nearly 10.2 million early ballots cast to 24.1 million. In the midst of COVID-19, early voting gives Americans who need to vote in-person the opportunity to do so while avoiding interactions with large groups and adhering to social distancing protocols. States should allow voters to cast their ballots at any polling location in their county by adopting “vote anywhere” rules to reduce lines at specific polling locations.

Expand Online Voter Registration 

When We All Vote believes that for everyone to participate in elections, voter registration should not be complicated. Online voter registration is a safe, accessible and secure way for voters across the country to sign up to cast their ballots. It allows eligible voters to quickly and easily register to vote, and it meets the needs of many eligible voters, especially young voters. Online voter registration follows the trends of conducting government business online, which helps save taxpayer dollars while reducing errors and cleaning up voter registration databases.  
When We All Vote will work diligently to support these efforts and combat misinformation targeted at historically underserved communities to ensure that all eligible voters, volunteers, supporters and partners are informed about every option available to them to cast their ballot during this election season. 

When We All Vote will encourage Americans to: 
  1. Take Action: Join the movement to advocate for these principles and ensure voters are educated about how they can register and vote. 
  2. Get Informed: Learn about the voting policies in their states and get to know their options for registering and voting-by-mail.
  3. Share with three Friends: Let them know how to get registered to vote, vote early in-person or vote-by-mail. Check out these voter resources for more information. 
  4. Call or email their federal legislators and let them know they support expanding access to vote-by-mail. 
On March 25, When We All Vote met voters and volunteers where they are — at home —for a virtual Couch Party. More than 10,000 volunteers signed up, and in partnership with DJ D-Nice, volunteers texted more than 400,000 eligible voters. On April 20th When We All Vote will hold its second virtual Couch Party to reach, inform and register more eligible voters.  

ABOUT When We All Vote: 
When We All Vote is a national, nonpartisan, non-profit that brings together citizens, institutions, brands, and organizations to increase participation in every election. We are 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.

Launched in 2018 by co-chairs Michelle Obama, Tom Hanks, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monáe, Chris Paul, Faith Hill, and Tim McGraw, When We All Vote is changing the culture around voting using a data-driven and multifaceted approach to increase participation in elections.

In the months directly before the 2018 midterm elections, When We All Vote organized 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 2019, When We All Vote announced its new celebrity co-chairs and media partners who will help to reach people where they are and ultimately change the culture around voting.


When We All Vote
Feb. 27, 2020

Michelle Obama Encourages African Americans to Register to Vote in a Video with Common As a Part of When We All Vote’s Black History Month Celebration

Washington, DC: In celebration of Black History Month, When We All Vote Co-Chair Michelle Obama joined award-winning musical artist, Common, in a video message encouraging eligible voters to get registered and ready to vote. Mrs. Obama launched When We All Vote, a nonpartisan national voter registration initiative in 2018 to increase participation in every election.

In the video message, Common and Mrs. Obama recite the first stanza of  Lift Every Voice and Sing, known as the Black National Anthem, a song written as a poem by James Weldon Johnson. They close the video by encouraging Americans to join When We All Vote, get registered and ready to vote.

There is an estimated 30 million African Americans who will be eligible to vote in 2020, according to the Pew Research Center. A full transcript of the video is below.

FULL TRANSCRIPT:
Mrs. Obama: Lift every voice and sing-
Common:… till Earth and Heaven ring—ring with the harmonies of liberty.
Mrs. Obama: Let our rejoicing rise high as the listening skies. Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Common: Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us. Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us.
Mrs. Obama: Facing the rising sun of our new day begun. Let us march on till victory is won. 
Let’s make sure our voices are heard loud and clear by going to When We All Vote Dot Org and helping our friends, family and neighbors get registered and ready to vote. 
Because When We All Vote, we can bring in a new day for this country that we all love. 
Common: Get registered and ready to vote today at When We All Vote Dot Org. Join us.

ABOUT When We All Vote: 

When We All Vote is a national, nonpartisan, non-profit that brings together citizens, institutions, brands, and organizations to increase participation in every election. We are 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.

Launched in 2018 by co-chairs Michelle Obama, Tom Hanks, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monáe, Chris Paul, Faith Hill, and Tim McGraw, When We All Vote is changing the culture around voting using a data-driven and multifaceted approach to increase participation in elections.

In the months directly before the 2018 midterm elections, When We All Vote organized 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 2019, When We All Vote announced its new celebrity co-chairs and media partners who will help to reach people where they are and ultimately change the culture around voting.

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Jan. 16, 2020

When We All Vote and MTV team up to launch the “2020 Prom Challenge” rewarding creative voter registration drives in high schools nationwide

Washington, DC: Today, When We All Vote’s national high school program, My School Votes, in partnership with MTV’s +1thevote and support from brand partners, such as Rent the Runway, announced the official launch of the 2020 Prom Challenge – a grant competition that will recognize high schools from across the country committed to boosting voter registration in their communities.

20 high schools with the most creative and impactful voter registration programs will be selected to win up to $5,000 to fund their proms and/or their nonpartisan voter registration efforts.
“With over 4 million Americans turning 18 between now and the 2020 election, When We All Vote and MTV are working to integrate voter registration into the lives of high school seniors, from proms to games, graduations to birthdays”, said Crystal Carson, Communications Director for When We All Vote.

By tapping into the power of prom, When We All Vote and MTV are coupling two important milestones in the lives of high school seniors. Students, teachers, administrators and parents are encouraged to apply online at mtvprom.whenweallvote.org, where they can also access important resources to help them get started.

About When We All Vote:

When We All Vote is a national, nonpartisan, non-profit that brings together citizens, institutions, brands, and organizations to increase participation in every election. We are 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.

Launched in 2018 by co-chairs Michelle Obama, Tom Hanks, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monáe, Chris Paul, Faith Hill, and Tim McGraw, When We All Vote is changing the culture around voting using a data-driven and multifaceted approach to increase participation in elections.

In the months directly before the 2018 midterm elections, When We All Vote organized 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 2019, When We All Vote launched My School Votes a new initiative calling on educators, students and their parents across the country to engage and register their peers to vote. Since the launch in July, thousands of teachers and students have responded by joining When We All Vote and starting voter registration programs at their schools.

About MTV:

MTV is the leading global youth media brand across every platform with operations that span cable and mobile networks, live events, theatrical films and MTV Studios, a unit focused on developing series for SVOD and linear distribution partners.

MTV’s +1thevote is encouraging potential first-time voters to register and vote in the November national election with a year-long campaign focused on making voting more social, easier and part of the milestones already happening in their lives, from prom to graduation to birthdays.

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Jan. 8, 2020

Kitsch x Justine Marjan x When We All Vote

Introducing the VOTE Bobby Pin, a NEW hair accessory making a stylish impact
Express yourself while spreading a meaningful message with the Kitsch x Justine Marjan x When We All Vote “VOTE” Rhinestone Bobby Pin. The latest addition to Kitsch and Justine Marjan’s cultish lineup of word pin hair accessories, 100% of proceeds from every purchase of the VOTE bobby pin ($29 each) will be donated to When We All Vote.

“The right to vote is something we are so lucky to have. We want the VOTE bobby pin to serve as a constant reminder of our voices and the opportunities they offer us to make direct change. Our fans have never shied away from expressive accessories and we know the partnership with When We All Vote is really going to resonate,” said Cassandra Thurswell, founder and CEO of Kitsch.

When We All Vote is a non-profit organization that is helping bring even more people into the voting process. For Kitsch and Justine Marjan, partnering with When We All Vote to launch the VOTE slogan hair pin was an easy decision. “Everyone who knows and follows me knows that I have an interest and passion for social justice and am eager to educate those around me,” explained Justine Marjan.

A leader in championing higher voter turnout at every election and providing the resources needed for easy voter registration, When We All Vote zeros-in on a succinct message: when we all vote, we all do better.

“When We All Vote is on a mission to change the culture around voting which means tapping into the powerhouse brands that people love,” said Stephanie Young, Managing Director of Communications and Culture for When We All Vote. “Kitsch x Justine Marjan has elevated the hair accessory industry and When We All Vote is proud to partner with them to raise awareness about the importance of registering and turning out to vote in every election.”

The Kitsch x Justine Marjan x When We All Vote “VOTE” Rhinestone Bobby Pin will be available starting January 3rd, 2020 for $29 at mykitsch.com. 100% of the proceeds from every purchase will be donated to When We All Vote. You can also discover more voter resources by visiting whenweallvote.org/kitsch

About When We All Vote:
When We All Vote is a national, nonpartisan, non-profit that brings together citizens, institutions, brands, and organizations to increase participation in every election. We are 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.

Launched in 2018 by co-chairs Michelle Obama, Tom Hanks, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monáe, Chris Paul, Faith Hill, and Tim McGraw, When We All Vote is changing the culture around voting using a data-driven and multifaceted approach to increase participation in elections.

In the months directly before the 2018 midterm elections, When We All Vote organized 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 2019, When We All Vote announced its new celebrity co-chairs and media partners who will help to reach people where they are and ultimately change the culture around voting.

About Kitsch: 


Built on positivity and a “feel-good” purchase mentality, Cassandra Thurswell created Kitsch in 2010. Originally a destination for affordable and on-trend hair accessories and jewelry, this self-financed, female-owned company has evolved into a global lifestyle brand. Available in more than 27 countries and across 15,000 retail locations, Kitsch is an accessory powerhouse offering unique and quality products across beauty, fashion, home goods and more. Kitsch believes first and foremost to embrace your intuition and inspiration through being true to yourself and buying what you love. Discover more reasons to fall in love with Kitsch, at http://www.mykitsch.com or Instagram/mykitsch.

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Nov. 7, 2019

Michelle Obama Announces 7 New Co-Chairs Joining When We All Vote, The National Nonpartisan Organization She Launched to Increase Voter Participation in Every Election

Washington, DC: Today, Michelle Obama released a video message announcing 7 new Co-Chairs joining When We All Vote, a national, nonpartisan organization launched in 2018 to increase participation in every election.

Joining Mrs. Obama as co-chairs of When We All Vote – as her Voting Squad – are Selena Gomez, Liza Koshy, Shonda Rhimes, Megan Rapinoe, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kerry Washington, and Rita Wilson will officially join Co-Chairs Tom Hanks, Faith Hill, Janelle Monáe, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Chris Paul.

The video is being released to mark one year until the 2020 General Elections. In the video message, the Co-Chairs urge Americans to join When We All Vote and sign up to create their own “Voting Squads”.

“Last year… Millions of new voters made their voices heard for the first time. Now the stakes are even higher and we are looking to you. Our country—our democracy—is counting on you.” said Mrs. Obama. A full transcript of the video is below.

In the months directly before 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.



This year’s Voting Squad program builds on When We All Vote’s successful 2018 digital campaign where we encouraged Americans to get out to vote. Now, When We All Vote is calling on Americans to organize their own Squads, volunteer groups aimed at getting friends, family, classmates and community registered and ready to vote.  When We All Vote also released a commemorative poster to celebrate Mrs. Obama’s Voting Squad.

Additionally, When We All Vote is excited to announce a number of community, corporate and media partners working closely with the organization, all committed to helping eligible Americans exercise their right to vote including, but not limited to:

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.,
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.,
Jack and Jill of America, Inc.,
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People,
National Basketball Players Association, National Education Association,
National Urban League,
The Women’s Missionary Society of the African Methodist Episcopal Church,
Voto Latino,
XQ Institute,
YMCA Youth and Government
ATTN,
Baller Alert,
BET Networks,
Blavity,
Comedy Central,
ELLE,
ESSENCE,
Hollywoodlife,
ICM Partners,
Lyft,
MTV Networks,
PAPER Magazine,
Paramount Network,
POPSUGAR,
Postmates,
The YBF,
TV Land,
United Talent Agency
 See the full list of partners HERE.

This past Summer, When We All Vote launched My School Votes a new initiative calling on educators, students and their parents across the country to engage and register their peers to vote. Since the launch in July, thousands of teachers and students have responded by joining When We All Vote and starting voter registration programs at their schools.

ABOUT When We All Vote:

When We All Vote is a national, nonpartisan, non-profit that brings together citizens, institutions, brands, and organizations to increase participation in every election. We are 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.

Launched in 2018 by co-chairs Michelle Obama, Tom Hanks, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monáe, Chris Paul, Faith Hill, and Tim McGraw, When We All Vote is changing the culture around voting using a data-driven and multifaceted approach to increase participation in elections.

In the months directly before the 2018 midterm elections, When We All Vote organized 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.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
Mrs. Obama: Last year, we went big. Millions of new voters made their voices heard for the first time. Now, the stakes are even higher. That’s why I’ve been reaching out to some friends to expand my voting squad for the year ahead.
Janelle Monae: It all starts with you.
Selena Gomez: You are the only person-
Tom Hanks: … who can have that conversation-
Faith Hill: … with your family and your friends-
Tracie Ellis Ross: … and your girlfriends.
Shonda Rhimes: And even with your community.
Lin Manuel Miranda: To get them registered and ready to vote.
Liza Koshy: Or just send them a text or slide into their DMs. And say, “Yo. You up?” Good. Cause you need to squad up.
Tracie Ellis Ross: We need you…
Chris Paul: … to draft your own championship voting squad.
Megan Rapinoe: It’s up to you to change the game.
Kerry Washington: Because when we squad up…
Selena Gomez: When we make our voices heard…
Faith Hill: When we all vote…
Tom Hanks: When we…
Kerry Washington: … all vote!
Janelle Monae: … we can change the world.
Tom Hanks: Head to whenweallvote.org
Rita Wilson: … to get started.
Shonda Rhimes: Let’s get to work.
Mrs. Obama: Join us.

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