Some bands are giving you free concert tickets if you vote in midterms
We’re quickly approaching the 2018 midterm elections with the big day landing Nov. 6. People have been scrambling to get the word out about the date. Now, it looks like some of our favorites are chiming in.
The #iVoted initiative is partnering with artists to offer free admission to more than 100 concerts in the U.S. as a way to get people to the polls.
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Good Charlotte, Like Pacific and ROAM are among the acts included in the #iVoted initiative. It also features shows by boygenius, Chase Atlantic, Playboi Carti, Drive-By Truckers, Hoobastank and many more.
#Minneapolis! Announcing that @GoodCharlotte w/ #SleepingWithSirens & @KnucklePuckIL @SkywayTheatre is an #iVoted show! Snap a selfie from outside of your polling place and show it at the door for entry. Happy voting #Minnesota! #TwinCities #TwinRockers pic.twitter.com/vMHQeWoaKG
— #iVoted (@iVotedConcerts) October 25, 2018
Welcoming #CT to the #iVoted family w/ @LikePacific & @ROAMse @WebsterTheater in #Hartford! Snap a selfie from outside your polling place, post it on Instagram tagging @ivotedconcerts & @thewebsterct to enter a drawing for 11/6! Contest closes @ 3p ET; winners contacted by 4. pic.twitter.com/RueRTG8bxN
— #iVoted (@iVotedConcerts) October 23, 2018
So how do you get in for free? Go vote and then snap a photo proving you did so. Before you whip out your camera, however, please keep in mind that some states have rules when it comes to selfies (aka don’t be Justin Timberlake).
You can’t take a booth selfie in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas or West Virginia. There are also several states where you can’t take a picture of your ballot, so head here for a full list.
California was on this list in 2016, but they’ve since joined the pro-selfie side. If you live in Arizona, keep in mind that the state law requires that you must be 75 feet away from your polling place to take a photo.
Once you (legally) take a photo proving you voted, some of the concerts are using a raffle system where they ask people to post it on Instagram and tag the venue and @ivotedconcerts.
Other concerts are using a first-come, first-served basis where fans must show their photo proof at the door the day of the show. The amount of free tickets ranges from 50 to 200 depending on location.
Some venues are also offering free drinks when you show proof that you voted. You can check out the full list of shows and participating venues on their website.
Other ways people are encouraged to vote
This #iVoted initiative is just the first of many attempts to get people to the polls. Just this week, Snapchat revealed they registered 400,000 people in two weeks.
Fake entertainment news has also been used as a tool to get people registered. Accounts (including Riot Fest) began sharing fake celeb-related news such as Kim Kardashian and Kanye West getting divorced to click on a link. Once they did, they were taken to a voter registration site.
The 2019 Riot Fest lineup is finally here! https://t.co/Gnc3S410OR
— Riot Fest (@RiotFest) October 15, 2018
With mid-term elections Nov. 6, the pressure for first-time voters to get involved is increasing. Even Taylor Swift recently broke her political silence, speaking very openly about her views and encouraging her fans to vote.
For the first time, millennial voters could make a huge difference in these elections. Only around 30 percent of young voters say they’ll vote in the midterms Nov. 6. This means that millennial’s parents and even grandparents could have the deciding vote on LGBTQ, reproductive and climate change issues.
There’s a chance though; after Swift’s statement, voter registration increased by 65,000 just a day after her statement. If more millennials voted, they could potentially change the political climate around things such as sexual assault and marijuana use.
Early voting is already open in some states, and it’s up to the younger generation to change the tide. Make sure you’re registered to vote at HeadCount.org and see if early voting is open in your state here.
