Voter registration organization HeadCount has partnered with a group of well-known artists to try and register as many individuals who show up to their concerts. Animal Collective, Best Coast, Jason Isbell, Lucius, Cherub, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Kurt Vile and Wavves have all partnered with HeadCount to set up voter registration drives at concerts along their tours during 2016.
2016 is a critical year to try and register young voters who will be attending these shows. In November, citizens will be able to vote in the presidential race, congressional and select senate and local races.
"We are stoked to be working with HeadCount on our upcoming tour! It is super important to us to spread awareness on the upcoming presidential election and give our fans the opportunity to register to vote at our shows," says Best Coast of the partnership.
There are nearly 15.5 million Americans under the age 21 and under who are eligible to vote this year. According to HeadCount, there will be more individuals age 18-34 than 51-69 for the first time ever. Young people don't vote compared to their parents and grandparents, which is why a lot decision-making is geared towards the elderly and not the young. The first step to getting young people to vote is to register them.
"We are honored to work with hundreds of musicians at all different stages of their careers," says HeadCount's executive director Andy Bernstein. "But there's something extra special when you align with artists whose careers are taking off and pushing music forward. They also happen to bring out young people in droves."
The new crop of 2016 acts join other artists like Jay Z, The Black Keys, My Morning Jacket, Wilco, Dave Matthews Band and Phish who have all worked with Headcount in the past.
HeadCount was founded in 2004 by a group of musicians and concert promoters including Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead and Marc Brownstein of the Disco Biscuits. In the 12 years since their inception, HeadCount have registered over 325,000 individuals. Get more information on the company website here.
