Joy to the Polls

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The brainchild of Election Defenders (a non-partisan group), to bring joy, music, artistry, and inspiration to polling places on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

The Austin effort is being coordinated by Sera Bonds of Waking Giants, Briona Jenkins of Briona Jenkins Consulting, and Becky Bullard + Ashley Cheng of The Rabble Podcast.

We all believe that voting must be as safe as possible— with PPE, social distancing and a lack of intimidation, and this effort is designed to support all of those efforts.

The effort aims to de-escalate any tensions with music and community, while infusing the process of voting with joy, energy, and excitement!

The campaign's goals are to:

  • Alleviate the anguish of the next few weeks and beyond

  • Celebrate the vibrancy of the artistic community even and especially during the pandemic

  • Create interventions of peace

  • Entertain people waiting to vote, early and on election day

  • Elevate JOY!

HOW YOU CAN HELP

We are looking for volunteers to help at the polling locations as well as vendors, musicians, artists, etc to bring join and entertainment to the folks waiting in line.

We are also looking for food and beverage donations. From breakfast tacos and coffees to chips and bottles of water, any donation will help us out.

voLUNTEER DETAILS

  • Dress code is apolitical. No slogans, political party, or candidate support tees/hats. None of that is allowed in the polling stations and we'd hate to have you turned away.

  • Wear a mask at all times. If you'd like a COVID safety refresher you can watch our Joy To The Polls safety video!

  • Please introduce yourself to the polling volunteers upon arrival. Let them know that you are part of a national, non-partisan action, Joy To The Polls. Let them know that you will be setting yourself up outside, safely distanced from the line, to perform some joyful, non-partisan, music.

  • This is a DIY effort so there will not be a Joy To The Polls volunteer to meet you and there will not be any power/plug in opportunities that we can guarantee; acoustic all the way. YOU are going to be the joy for the folks in line and what a gift you bring.

  • Enjoy our #JTTPATX playlist.

COVID SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR VOLUNTEERS

Sera, from Waking Giants, created a COVID Safety Video for our volunteers.