JOY OF VOTING TOOLKIT

Wherever you are in the country, and whatever you care about, you can create a Joy of Voting project. There was a time in American history when participation in elections was a raucous, participatory event. In communities across the country, everyday citizens are bringing that culture back, in a celebratory, inclusive, 21st century way. With projects that inspire creativity, community, and conversation, civic participation becomes joyous and electrifying. Instead of “do your duty,” it’s “join the party!” The Joy of Voting is for everyone. Joy of Voting projects are community-based, action-oriented, and can range from community art projects and street theatre to themed voting festivals and parties. In 2016, 2017, and 2018, Citizen University catalyzed over 55 projects in eight cities around the country that served as examples of what interactive, inclusive, and joyful election can look like. Now it’s your turn! TIPS FOR CREATING YOUR OWN JOY OF VOTING PROJECT:

Make it local. Tie it to the culture of the city and community where you are. Think about what your community needs to be included and informed. Consider what is a special or unique about where you live, and how you can leverage that to put on a creative, locally-rooted Joy of Voting project. Make it joyful. This should be obvious for the Joy of Voting project, but sometimes it can be easy to forget. There are a lot of get-out-the-vote efforts, voter education projects, and organizations telling people how important it is to vote. This is different. When you are hosting a Joy of Voting project, you’re doing all of that in a creative, community-based, and artistic way. With the goal of giving people a reason to want to vote, you

are inventing new rituals of civic life filled with spirit, fun, and purpose.

Do it together. In public life today we are increasingly isolated, lonely, and polarized. The Joy of Voting project is an opportunity to help provide an alternative. The most successful projects invite collaboration — with other artists or organizers, with local business, schools, or organizations, and with the public by being open and welcoming. Create opportunities for people to join together, get to know each other, and do something collectively, whether it’s silly, powerful, or both.

Make it legit. Make sure to research and follow all county and state election laws about how close you are allowed to be to a polling location, what you are allowed to say and give away, and what the regulations are around candidate involvement, registering voters, or handling ballots. The Joy of Voting should be a non-partisan activity, aimed at promoting turnout and involvement, not any particular candidate or issue.

Tell people. The Joy of Voting isn’t only about individual projects - it’s about telling the story of what a celebratory participatory culture of voting could look like by creating it. So tell local media about your project. Invite friends and community leaders. And share your Joy of Voting project on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook with the hashtag #JoyofVoting.

Don’t stop here. Voting is just one way to engage and embrace your civic power. Serve, learn, join, gather, and argue in every aspect of civic life as you help spread the belief that democracy depends on us!

There’s no one way to make a Joy of Voting event. Use your imagination, creativity, and follow the tips above. And remember… there’s no such thing as not voting! Learn more and see videos, photos, and examples of past projects at www.joyofvoting.us

The Joy of Voting is a project of Citizen University.