Since its first event at Playing in the Sand with Dead & Company in 2018, HeadCount has connected fans with one-of-a-kind, artist-signed memorabilia. The auctions demonstrate that music fans are eager to support causes they care about when given meaningful ways to give back and chances to take home exclusive, custom memorabilia. 

2026 Festival Partners and Beneficiaries

Phish: Riviera Maya — One-of-one Pollock drawing sold for $31,800

Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa — Supporting SongwritingWith: Soldiers

Brandi Carlile’s Girls Just Wanna Weekend 7 — Custom signed D’Angelico guitar sold for $36,000

Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds Riviera Maya — Signed D’Angelico acoustic guitar sold for $50,000

Noah Kahan’s Out Of the Blue Festival — Benefiting the Busyhead Project

PRM 2026 — Riviera Maya performance

How It Works

HeadCount produces and manages each auction onsite, working with artists to offer rare, signed, and custom items. HeadCount partners with D’Angelico to customize each guitar with one-of-a-kind art from artists including AJ Masthay, Graffiti Garage and Dig O’Neil. Proceeds are split between HeadCount and each artist’s charity of choice, supporting causes including mental health, veterans, LGBTQIA+ communities, environmental protection, and local initiatives.

Link to photos here

About HeadCount

HeadCount uses the power of music, culture, and community to turn fans into voters. We’re a national, nonpartisan organization working to get more young people civically engaged than any other nonprofit in the country. We meet young people where they already are, at concerts, festivals, and online, and make it easy to register to vote, learn about elections, and take part in democracy. 

Since 2004, we’ve registered over 1.7 million new voters through our work with artists like Ariana Grande, Harry Styles, Sabrina Carpenter, Green Day, Dead & Co and Alicia Keys and events including Gov Ball, Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, pride festivals and RuPaul’s DragCon. Our award-winning digital campaigns have driven tens of millions of voting actions, while our 95,000+ volunteer squad can be seen at more than 2,000 live events each year. 

About 100X Hospitality

100x Hospitality is a global experiential events and hospitality company dedicated to connecting people with the music they love through meaningful, memorable experiences. Rooted in a “Fan First & Artist Forward” philosophy, 100x partners with leading artists and festivals to create fully-produced destination events, curated travel packages, and VIP ticketing programs, that bring fans closer to the music that they love, and to each other. Known for its thoughtful approach and reliable execution, 100x turns imaginative ideas into real-world experiences.

The post HeadCount Raises Over $1,000,000 for Charity Through Onsite Auctions at Five Riviera Maya, Cancun Destination Festivals Produced by 100x Presents appeared first on HeadCount.

A Letter from HeadCount’s Current & Founding Executive Directors

From Lucille Wenegieme, Current Executive Director:

When I first learned about HeadCount years ago, someone described the organization as “Deadheads who get people to register to vote.” In the 22 years since HeadCount was born, no one has lent their bright light to us as many times and in as many special moments as Bob Weir.

I had only been running the organization solo for a month when my predecessor Andy took me to meet Bobby for the first time in a quiet restaurant in Mill Valley. Even though I hadn’t grown up with the Dead, I was keenly aware that there were fans who would give anything for the opportunity. When lunch led into desserts at Sweetwater Music Hall, I watched onlookers gawk and whisper when they saw him. 

Bobby was soft-spoken, kind, and deeply generous with his time. Over the years that followed, every “Bobby sighting” was a treat, a good omen that the vibes would be high.

There is so much about Dead fans — and about HeadCount — that I learned from Bobby in our few meetings, in watching him perform his music, and in witnessing the broad sprawl of his legacy. At the Sphere shows in ‘24 and ‘25, I saw image after image, and song after song lovingly crafted to call back decades of fond memories for fans. It’s the same energy we try to emulate when we drop easter eggs for the fans in our posts, and how we’ve tried to make music fans of all genres feel like they have a place in HeadCount. During a practice jam session ahead of a performance in London with the Royal Philharmonic, I saw Bobby reimagine nearly 60 years of his work in a new way. It’s the same innovation and approach to new ideas that we try to bring to campaigns we launch.

HeadCount still has many volunteers and staff who have been involved in one way or another since the beginning. HeadCounters are people who always find a way to get to the show, and who link up whenever they’re in each other’s hometowns. They show up in big and small ways to make sure folks in their community have what they need. Bobby was the catalyst that brought tens of thousands of fans and volunteers to our organization, and that culture is Bobby’s legacy in action. Deadheads are collectively some of the most philanthropic music fans in the world, thanks in no small part to Bobby’s leadership and vision.

Whether it’s filling a raceway in New Jersey with tens of thousands of fans or supporting our little organization to register nearly 2 million people to vote, Bobby showed time and time again that pockets of people from all over, banding together, can do awesome things.

I am deeply grateful for his and Natascha’s support, and even more grateful that he made supporting us seem easy and natural to do, so that others would do the same. Bob’s passing leaves a responsibility to continue bringing civic participation into culture. To keep showing up where people gather. To realize the future he worked to build.

We’re on a mission from Bob, and we’ll keep at it til it’s done. 

– Lucille

From Andy Bernstein, Co-Founder & former Executive Director:

Before HeadCount ever registered a single voter, Bob Weir agreed to join our board of directors. We didn’t even know how to get a hold of the guy directly to make it official.

On a winter day in 2004 I was in an elevator in a Manhattan office building, actively thinking about how to let Bobby know we were for real. And just at that moment, the doors opened, and he was literally standing in the lobby, for a random, totally unrelated reason. I ran up to him and told him who I was. Immediately, without hesitation, he gave me his cell number.

That kicked off a 22-year relationship. When Bob hopped onto our board of directors conference calls, he always announced himself with a short “Weir here.”

Indeed, he was always there, appearing exactly when he was needed, as if he somehow knew exactly how the script would unfold.

Like an angel, standing in a shaft of light.

In the ensuing years he headlined five different benefit concerts for HeadCount, shouted us out from stage, brought our crew on tours, did countless meet and greets with our volunteers and supporters, and appeared in every one of our photo campaigns and video productions. He even personally called dozens and dozens of fans to remind them to vote. Imagine picking up a call from an unknown number and getting Bobby Weir on the other end! 

Bobby came to every situation and choice from a place of “yes.” That disposition – so unique for someone of his fame and accomplishment – is literally what allowed HeadCount to exist. Every rung of the ladder we climbed somehow involved standing on his shoulders.

One day I reached out and asked if he’d be open to christening his new TRI Studios by playing a show with an indie rock band he’d never heard of, for one of the first ever charity livestreams. His answer: “You bet.” That sublime performance with the National on March 24, 2012 was so good, they went on to record a full album and do an entire tour together. The National’s Aaron Dessner just called it the “surreal highlight of my entire career” – and he’s co-authored albums with Taylor Swift!

In 2015, just before the GD 50 shows, Bobby started plucking away at a guitar we asked him to sign, and he surprised us by offering to play it on stage. It ended up auctioning for $526,000 split among 17 organizations, and the Participation Row activism village was born. For the next decade he made sure Participation Row was at every Dead & Co show, and together we raised literally millions for all the “Dead Family” charities.

I remember at one of the last Sphere shows, seeing Bob, dressed like a wise old shaman, projected 7 stories high. Truly like an angel. And I could see that he had a HeadCount VOTE pin strategically placed on his guitar strap.

Bobby will never be replaced, but somehow I know he will still always be there when we need him most, and never leave our sides.

WEIR HERE, forever. Thank you, Bobby.

– Andy

Have a memory of Bob Weir you’d like to share with us? You can tell us your story here. 

Contributions in honor of Bob Weir to HeadCount can be made here. 

The post Weir On a Mission From Bob appeared first on HeadCount.

JR has decided to retire from his volunteer leadership role at HeadCount, and we couldn’t let him go without saying a few words. 

JR will often tell you that he started volunteering because he was an introvert, and volunteering “gave him permission” to freely go up to people and interact with them. Since becoming a volunteer in 2008, JR has moved through the ranks, becoming a local team leader in 2012 and a Regional Coordinator in 2014 – taking on the responsibility for all volunteer team leaders across seven midwestern states. JR has been bringing our mission to life for almost as long as the org has been around – so much so that he’s trained people who have gone on to become staff members. JR was the first Team Leader that Aziza (Digital Marketing Manager) had at an event, and he was the first person at HeadCount that Tom (Director of Voter Engagement) ever spoke to from HeadCount!

“I believe that the meaning of life is defined by how we serve others. I also believe that civic engagement – especially at the local level – is the cornerstone of healthy, vibrant communities.” -JR

To know JR is to know that his love for music is almost as strong as his love for democracy. For seven years, he was our team leader at LOCKN’ Festival. For seven years, JR would drive 7-8 hours from his home in Central Ohio and help create some of the most unforgettable HeadCount memories. Helping manage 18 volunteers at our Participation Row is no small feat, but JR took it in stride and recalled how lucky he felt that he was able to do it. In 2019, we crowned him our Festival Team Leader of the Year for leading his 7th LOCKN’ with us.

JR shows up every day for his friends, family, and his community. His love for democracy runs deep – not only does he spend nights and weekends with us registering people to vote, but he volunteers at his local polling place on Election Day. 

After 17 years, some numbers get a little lost… but since JR became a Team Leader in 2012, he has helped us: 

• Attend 186 events
• Register nearly 7,000 people to vote
• Recruited 1,200+ people who are interested in volunteering
• Helped more than 16,200 people make sure they’re ready for their next election

In 2024, JR volunteered an impressive 210 hours with HeadCount — multiplied by 17 years comes out to 3,570 hours of service. That is probably a huge understatement, because if you know JR, you know he goes above and beyond in every sense of the phrase.

JR — thank you for your years of service. We are so glad you decided to volunteer here 17 years ago. 

The post “My Volunteer Job Pays The Most” appeared first on HeadCount.

1. Young and diverse candidates made history 

Across the country, young people won elections and inspired civic participation. From school boards to city halls to mayors offices and state legislatures, young people are proving that they are ready to lead and bring fresh energy into our civic process. Meet a few of the inspiring, authentic, values-drive young people who won their elections and will go on to serve in their communities:

In Charlottesville, Zyahna Bryant, 24, turned years of activism into action by winning a seat on the city’s School Board. Bryant – a young, Black community activist – first gained fame as a teen petitioning to remove Confederate statues. She was the top vote-getter for School Board, signaling strong support for this young advocate of educational equity.

In New York City, Zohran Mamdani, 34, made history as the youngest NYC mayor elected in over a century – and the second youngest ever. A former State Assemblymember and progressive voice for working people, Zohran’s campaign galvanized young voters and helped drive record turnout in the November election — pushing NYC’s total number of voters past 2 million for the first time since 1969.

Down in Florida, Bryan Calvo, 27, became the youngest mayor in the entire state, winning decisively in his hometown of Hialeah after a decisive win. Calvo, who started his political career while in law school, ran on a message of transparency, lowering taxes and fees, and fighting corruption.

In Ohio, PJ Errera, 35, broke barriers as the first out LGBTQIA+ member elected to the Kent School Board, bringing representation and new perspectives.

In Newark, NJ, David Daughety, 23, joined the city’s Board of Education as one of its youngest members ever — and its first Gen Z official. A recent college graduate, he ran on elevating student voices and improving youth programs. 

In Detroit, Mary Sheffield made history as the youngest Black woman ever elected to lead a major U.S. city.

In Virginia, Abigail Spanberger was elected governor, becoming the state’s first female governor in history. In the same election, Ghazala F. Hashmi was elected lieutenant governor, making her the first Muslim woman elected to statewide office in the U.S.

These wins show that young people aren’t waiting their turn. They’re claiming their seats and shaping the future. Young people are craving change and eager to vote for candidates who reflect their priorities. 

2. Voters Weighed In On Changes to the Electoral Process

Across the country, voters didn’t just pick candidates, they also made choices about how elections themselves should work. The results showed a mix of ideas, but one clear message: people care deeply about keeping our elections fair and accessible.

• In Maine, voters rejected “Question 1,” a proposal that would’ve added new voting restrictions like photo ID requirements and tighter absentee ballot rules. The “no” vote means Maine will keep its current system, which makes voting more accessible for everyone.
• In California, voters approved Proposition 50, a temporary measure to redraw the state’s congressional districts. The plan adds five Democratic-leaning seats — a direct response to Texas creating five new Republican-leaning ones. While partisan gerrymandering isn’t something we celebrate, the measure’s passage shows California voters wanted to push back against lopsided maps elsewhere and make their voices heard – and ensure a level playing field going into the 2026 midterms. The state will return to its independent, nonpartisan redistricting process in 2030.
• And in Texas, voters passed Proposition 16, which says non-citizens can’t vote in elections…something that was already the law! The measure doesn’t actually change who can vote, but it shows how voting rights and rules continue to be a hot topic in the state.

While the outcomes varied, one thing was consistent nationwide: elections ran smoothly, securely, and without major issues. That’s something worth celebrating. 

3. Every Year Is an “On” Year for Democracy

This year’s elections proved that democracy doesn’t take an off year — and neither does HeadCount. Even without a presidential race, a majority of states had elections shaping their schools, cities, and communities last night. 

In 2025, we showed up everywhere young people already are: concerts, festivals, community events, and online. Together with our volunteers, artist partners, and supporters, we registered more than 39,000 voters and helped over 1 million people get ready to vote — whether by checking their registration, finding out what was on their ballot, or making a plan to cast their vote. 

Our impact stretched from packed arenas to pop-ups and festival fields. Sabrina Carpenter, Tate McRae, and Brandi Carlile powered the most voter registrations this year through sold-out tours and digital campaigns that blended fandom with civic action. We also hit new highs at All Things Go, Electric Forest, and Outside Lands, and teamed up with artists like Chappell Roan, Glass Animals, Remi Wolf, Ravyn Lenae, My Morning Jacket, Leon Bridges, and John Legend, whose fans showed up big for democracy. Across 1,000+ field events and 50+ festivals, HeadCount made civic participation part of youth culture. Democracy is not just something that happens every four years.

Sabrina Carpenter drove tens of thousands of fans to HeadCount to take action.

As we head into winter and look toward 2026, HeadCount is keeping that energy alive. Democracy is a year-round gig, and we’re proud to keep fans and voters plugged in, informed, and ready to make their voices heard, every show, every season, every year. ✌️

HeadCount volunteers and staff during National Voter Registration Day.

The post 3 Things You Need To Know From Last Night’s November 4 Elections appeared first on HeadCount.

HeadCount drove nearly 40,000 voter actions and new registrations during National Voter Registration Day

New York, NY – HeadCount marked National Voter Registration Day (Sept. 16) with a surge of momentum, announcing new artist partnerships, hosting a flagship youth-led block party in New York City, and sparking tens of thousands of civic actions across the country.

The centerpiece of the day was a major new collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter, who launched an exclusive Good to Vote digital campaign that inspired over 30,000 fans to take civic action within the first 12 hours. Fans can enter to win VIP tickets, flights, and hotel accommodations to her Nov. 23 Los Angeles show by checking their voter registration status or signing up for election reminders. 

HeadCount will also join Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet Tour at 15 stops—including New York City, Nashville, Pittsburgh, and Los Angeles—embedding voter engagement directly into the concert experience with pre-show video content, fan-to-fan conversations, and staffed booths offering registration and election information. This builds on Carpenter’s history with HeadCount: in 2024, she was the organization’s top artist partner, helping generate more than 35,000 registrations and 263,000 civic actions.

In addition to Carpenter, HeadCount announced new fall partnerships with Chappell Roan, John Legend, and Tate McRae. Roan’s shows in New York, Kansas City, and Los Angeles will feature voter engagement activations starting this week, while HeadCount will also be present on tour stops with Legend and McRae. The announcements come alongside new Good to Vote digital campaigns with Mt. Joy and creator Jake Shane, further expanding HeadCount’s reach online. 

Beyond the concert stage, HeadCount was spotlighted on Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Daily Show with Desi Lydic, and Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, where hosts promoted voter registration in partnership with the organization. These efforts join a broad coalition of artists already working with HeadCount, including Dead & Company, Ani DiFranco, Wilco, Leon Bridges, and Dave Matthews Band.

National Voter Registration Day was also celebrated on the ground with a youth-led block party beside Washington Square Park in New York City, where more than 5,000 young people came together for live music, public art, interactive civic activities, and even puppy adoptions. Across the country, HeadCount supported over 40 voter registration drives, from college campuses to community centers. The combined results: 5,647 new voters registered and 37,203 digital civic actions logged in a single day.

“National Voter Registration Day is a celebration of our democracy and a reminder that every election matters, including the ones happening in our own backyards,” said Lucille Wenegieme, Executive Director of HeadCount. “At HeadCount, we know the power music and culture has to bring people together. Sabrina Carpenter and the many artists we work with are channeling that energy to ensure everyone has the chance to use their voice this November.”

With more than 50,000 local offices on the ballot this fall, two governor’s races (VA, NJ), and statewide ballot measures in TX, CA, MO, and CO, HeadCount is focused on reaching millions of potential voters—including over 4 million young people newly eligible to cast their first ballot.

About HeadCount
HeadCount is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting participation in democracy through the power of music, culture, and community. By collaborating with artists, festivals, and brands, HeadCount helps register voters and inform them about upcoming elections, empowering individuals to make their voices heard. Since 2004, HeadCount has signed up over 1.7 million voters through partnerships with touring musicians like Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Harry Styles, Usher, Dead & Company, Green Day, and Alicia Keys, as well as events like Camp Flog Gnaw, Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, Pride Festivals, and RuPaul’s DragCon.

About National Voter Registration Day
National Voter Registration Day is a nonpartisan civic holiday made possible by the collaborative effort of over 100 major national partners and thousands of community organizations. It is managed and fiscally sponsored by Nonprofit VOTE. HeadCount is a founding member.

The post Press Release: HeadCount Celebrates National Voter Registration Day appeared first on HeadCount.

President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law on August 6th, 1965

That’s what the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was designed to stop.

Let’s travel back in time for a second. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was one the biggest victories of the civil rights movement in the ‘60s. While Black Americans had already won the legal right to vote, in practice, a range of tactics were used to block them from casting a ballot — like poll taxes, literacy tests, intimidation, and unfair rules.

This was called voter disenfranchisement — a word that simply means taking away someone’s right to vote, even when the law says they should have it.

The Voting Rights Act was created to stop this kind of discrimination. It made those racist tactics illegal and gave the federal government power to prevent them before they could affect an election. Over time, the law expanded to protect rural voters, Native communities, students, people with disabilities, non-English speakers, and naturalized citizens, bringing us closer to a real “one person, one vote” democracy.

Why it Matters

The Voting Rights Act has been a powerful shield against laws designed to silence voters. It helped block racist gerrymandering, stopped last-minute rule changes meant to confuse voters, and led to fairer representation.

In the decade after the act passed, the voter registration gap between Black and white voters in the South dropped from nearly 30 percentage points to just 8. Communities that had been shut out of the process finally got a seat at the table and started electing leaders who reflected their values and their residents. By 1971, there were 14 Black members of Congress.

This law was effective and popular. Congress kept reauthorizing it, again and again. The last time was in 2006, and it passed unanimously in the Senate and was signed by President Bush. It’s rare for anything to get that kind of total support — but the Voting Rights Act did.

What’s the threat?

In recent years, key protections in the Voting Rights Act have been gutted by the Supreme Court. That opened the door to new laws that make it harder for people to vote, especially young voters, people of color, and low-income communities.

Since then, we’ve seen:

• Hundreds of polling places closed
• Stricter voter ID laws
• Reduced early voting hours
• More voter roll purges
• Confusing rules for students, especially those without in-state IDs

And it’s getting worse. In just the first half of 2025, over 100 laws restricting voting access were passed across the country, affecting nearly 60 million eligible voters.

The systems that once protected our rights are being rolled back. That’s why we need action now.

A Path Forward: The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

There’s a way to restore and expand the power of the Voting Rights Act. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is a federal bill that would bring back the core protections of the original legislation, with a more modern take. It would: 

• Require federal oversight of new voting laws in places with a history of discrimination
• Make it easier to challenge voter suppression in court
• Protect voters from voter roll purges, strict ID requirements, and confusing registration rules
• Help ensure maps are drawn fairly — not for partisan advantage

It’s named for the late Congressman and civil rights legend Rep. John Lewis, who nearly died marching for voting rights in Selma. This bill honors his legacy.

You’re Part of This Story

Every time one of our volunteers helps someone register to vote at a concert or festival, they’re continuing the legacy of the Voting Rights Act. Every time someone checks their voter registration or learns how to vote by mail, it’s a step toward a more inclusive democracy. We help close the gap.

At HeadCount, we know that young people are powerful — but we also know they face real barriers to voting. That’s why we meet them where they are, online and in real life, with clear, trustworthy info in English and Spanish. We bring joy, music, and community into the civic process.

Take Action To Celebrate 60 Years of the Voting Rights Act

1. Check your voter registration status.
2. If you have free time and want to see free shows, sign up to volunteer with HeadCount. 
3. If you can and want to support our mission, make a donation today. 

So today, as we celebrate 60 years of the Voting Rights Act, we’re clear: there’s more work to be done. We’re ready to keep showing up, registering young people to vote, and advocating for policies that protect everyone’s ballot access. When every voice can be heard, we make better decisions, build more trust, and create a future that truly reflects all of us.

The post The Voting Rights Act Turns 60: What That Means for You Today appeared first on HeadCount.

How do we do it? We work with top artists, creators, and brands to register fans to vote. But our work doesn’t end there. From registering to vote through Election Day, we keep in touch and provide nonpartisan voter information and encourage action takers to become voters. All of this leads to HeadCounters showing up to vote at higher rates than their peers on the national level. 

THE HEADLINERS

In 2024, we worked with our most diverse class of artist partners yet, which gave us the pleasure of meeting fans from different backgrounds. It’s our long standing goal to embrace diversity and serve voters that reflect the diversity of the United States.

This is a snapshot based on the US Census (Race) Alone in Table 2 vs various state voter file information. Note that the state voter files do not capture race in the same way across states, and none of the states use the same exact reporting as the US Census.

The folks who take action with HeadCount are more racially diverse than the country, and we support them in voting at higher rates than other folks in the same demographics — between 11 and 23% higher! We’re excited to say HeadCount is good at registering, informing, and activating voters across all ethnic backgrounds.

As politics has gotten more polarizing, more voters of all ages, and especially young people, are not affiliating themselves with either major political party. Our data shows that HeadCount is especially effective at activating people who aren’t affiliated with a political party to vote. In fact, 55% of people who took action with HeadCount are unaffiliated with any party. We’re reaching young folks that the political parties can’t.

We are proud to be a trusted voting resource for people of different backgrounds, experiences, and ideological beliefs. Creating lifelong voters doesn’t happen overnight — if you’re reading this, chances are we have you to thank for this incredible feat. We are so lucky to have our artist and corporate partners, staff and volunteers, donors, Board of Directors, and YOU. It truly takes a village to and we’re proud to have ours.

We’re working hard this year and beyond to bridge the gap between young voters and their democracy. If you want to support, partner, or get involved, contact Info@HeadCount.org. 

Read the Turnout Report here. 

The post 78% of HeadCount Action Takers Turned Out to Vote in 2024 appeared first on HeadCount.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. WHAT IS THE SAVE ACT?

If passed, the SAVE Act would require people to provide physical proof of citizenship when registering to vote, in the form of a valid U.S. passport, official birth certificate, or naturalization certificate. A Social Security Number or driver’s license number and a self-affirmation of citizenship (the current requirements) would no longer serve as proof of citizenship. These items would have to be presented in person at a local election office.

Proof of citizenship has always been required to vote in federal elections, and by adding this requirement to provide physical documents — which many Americans don’t have access to — this law would prevent eligible people from voting. 

2. WHO WILL THE SAVE ACT IMPACT?

For all voters, but especially young and first-time voters, the SAVE Act’s requirements would make registering to vote harder. Over 21 million eligible voters do not have easy access to proof of citizenship, and nearly 4 million have no access at all. Even if people do have access to their birth certificate, 73 million U.S. citizens do not have a birth certificate with their current legal name, including married people and others who have legal name changes.

3. HOW WILL PEOPLE REGISTER TO VOTE IF THE SAVE ACT BECOMES LAW?

If passed, only state and county election officials could accept a voter’s proof of citizenship, which would have to occur in person at an elections office, effectively eliminating voter registration drives. No longer could everyday Americans or community groups go out into their community to engage with and register voters using existing legal methods. Online voter registration systems, which are used by 42 states, would also be eliminated. 

4. WHAT IF I’M ALREADY REGISTERED, WILL I BE OK TO VOTE?

Maybe. In addition to the new proof of citizenship requirements, this bill would require all states to use federal databases from the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration to remove noncitizens from voter lists. These databases tend to be less up to date than state and local agencies. Often citizens who have been recently naturalized might not have their citizenship status reflected in the federal databases. Voter roll purges can be useful for maintaining an accurate voter list, but the requirements in this bill actually mean valid, eligible voters will be removed from the voter roll, and not be able to vote during elections.  

This bill requires more frequent voter roll purges, likely leading to an increase in eligible voters being removed from the voter rolls. In Virginia and Alabama in 2024, voter roll purges lead to thousands of eligible voters being denied the right to use their voice and participate in the election. Under the SAVE Act, when someone is removed from the voter rolls there is no requirement to let them know they’ve been removed, meaning voters may not know they are no longer registered until they try to vote and are turned away.

5. WILL ELECTION OFFICIALS BE IMPACTED UNDER THE SAVE ACT?

Yes. This bill creates unnecessary requirements for election officials. If passed, election officials who register someone without proof of citizenship could face criminal charges. Private citizens would also be allowed to sue states or election officials if they believe the law isn’t being followed. These new requirements add a mountain of pressure on election workers who would be held to standards that no other government agency or role has. 

The bill also does not provide any money to help states update their processes for these new rules. Local election offices would have to execute these changes with the same staff and resources they already have, something that will almost certainly slow down the other operations of their offices, which includes the smooth administration of elections. Many of the changes in the SAVE Act would be instituted almost immediately, with the first batch of new rules going into effect just 10 days after the bill is passed.

6. WHAT CAN I DO?

The SAVE Act would bring about the largest election process changes at the federal level in decades, and would establish a major shift in how voter registration works. While it is still just a bill and has no guarantees that it will be passed into law, there are a number of actions you can take right now revolving around the SAVE Act.

1. Ensure your voter registration is up to date. If you have recently moved or changed your name, register to vote as soon as possible. If you are moving in the near future, make sure you have the documents needed to prove your citizenship in case the SAVE Act is signed into law before you move.
2. Educate your networks. HeadCount has a number of social media posts on our feeds that you can share to your channels that provide critical and easy to understand information about how the SAVE Act impacts voters.
3. Contact your legislators via email with our partners VoteRiders and ask them to focus on protecting and expanding voting rights, instead of making it more difficult for eligible Americans to vote.

If you have any specific questions about the SAVE Act in the coming weeks, DM or email us, and we’ll do our best to get you an answer. 

The post What is the SAVE Act, and How Could It Affect Voters? appeared first on HeadCount.

Eager beaver? You can dive into the full report right away.

2024 was the year we set new records:

• 3,322,535 voter actions;
• 492,246 people registered to vote;
• 3,700+ events;
• 159,000+ pins shared.

MEET THE HEADCOUNTERS

Nearly 1 in 100 people in the US took meaningful action with HeadCount in 2024. With just under half a million voters registered last year — and 1.6 million in our lifetime — we’ve helped music fans of all backgrounds get civically engaged. 

How do we do it? Glad you asked! As detailed in our 2024 impact report, this is only possible because of our artist and corporate partners, staff and volunteers, donors and Board of Directors. It’s hard to capture everything we achieved last year, but we’ll try. 

HEADCOUNT TOURING CLASS OF 2024

The most diverse class of artist partners by genre and race/ethnicity. Music is in our DNA, and tours, concerts, and festivals had an incredible impact on our work. We hit the road with a record 100 artists, met fans at arenas, stadiums and clubs & theaters to get them registered to vote. These relationships are integrated deeply into our work, and we’re grateful for every partner that used their platforms to share voting information, empowering their fans at every step of the process. Even Olivia Rodrigo used our resources to cast her ballot!

GETTING OUT THE VOTE

Registering people to vote is just the start of the civic adventure. Once voter registration deadlines passed, we dove right into making sure folks had information on how to cast their ballot. Last year, we:

• Sent 4,856,990 geo-targeted emails with ballot info, polling place hours, and other essential info to making your voice heard;
• Sent 856,796 direct text messages;
• Mailed 499,015 postcards;
• Posted 140 organic social media posts reaching 19,963,236 users;
• Helped organize 7 iVoted concerts for 20,000+ attendees.

What sets HeadCount apart from the other political noise is our fan-to-fan communication. Speaking directly to fans allows us to have an authentic connection and create trust in the fandom. From postcards to emails and text messages, we engaged with fans of all genres and turned them out to vote. 

THE FUTURE

Looking to 2028, Gen Alpha will join Gen Z as the biggest group of young voters. What we’ve learned over the last few years is that young voters continue to trend nonpartisan and unaffiliated — lucky for us, since we will continue to activate in cultural spaces where young people of varying ideologies congregate.  That’s why we’re going to keep our  “Future Voter” campaign moving, a campaign that activates in spaces where attendees are likely to be 13-18 years old. We are looking forward to creating memories with future voters – after all, you will always remember when you registered to vote at your favorite concert 😉

Find the full Impact Report here. 

Update on June 18, 2025: Our turnout report can be found here. TL;DR? 78% of people who took action with HeadCount turned out to vote, compared to 65% national turnout.

The post 3 Million Strong – 2024 Impact Report appeared first on HeadCount.

When comparing genders and media consumption:

• Young men are twice as likely to to trust podcasts, and significantly more likely to trust X and YouTube for political news;
• Young women tend to trust TikTok, national news stations, local TV stations and informational articles online for political news.

When comparing party voters and media consumption:

• Harris voters trust news from online articles, international outlets and national TV news stations;
• Trump voters were more likely to trust podcasts and X.

When asked about issues important to them:

• Young registered voters whose top issue was immigration or abortion voted at higher rates — indicating that the issues pushed them to the polls this year;
• The top issue for young registered voters was inflation/cost of living, with political corruption as the second most important issue.

HeadCount works closely with artists partners to register and turnout our voters, and when asked how they feel about celebrities and influencers endorsing candidates, about half of young people wanted celebrities and influencers to encourage their audience to vote (56%), share information on how to register to vote (51%), speak out on domestic issues (50%), and speak out on global issues (48%). Few (18%) said celebrities shouldn’t talk about politics at all and most young people surveyed wanted celebrities to use their platforms to promote civic engagement, but they disagreed about celebrities taking a partisan stance on candidates and ballot initiatives. 

Looking ahead…

• Our data reports that young voters see elected officials as having power to make change in their lives, for better or worse;
• Strong majorities say the president (73% a lot/some change), U.S. Congress (65%), their local government (64%), the governor of their state (63%), and their state Congress (62%) are able to make some or a lot of change in their lives.
• Young registered voters feel positively about their own futures (66% very or somewhat positive), but negatively about the future of the country (41% very or somewhat negative) and planet (47% very or somewhat negative).

In the 2024 election cycle, we registered more than 495,000 people through hundreds of digital campaigns and 3,797 concerts and events across the nation, culminating in more than 3.32 million digital actions thanks to its incredible crew of 90,000 volunteers and its robust digital audience. 

We will use the findings from this poll to understand what young people are most focused on now and shape how we reach these voters in 2025 and beyond. As Lucille Wenegieme, HeadCount Executive Director, said: “The heart of American politics is still grassroots. Facilitating a new generation of civic leaders is our mission, and the best way to do that is to make sure individuals are registered to vote from the moment they turn 18 – one concert at a time.”

The post HeadCount releases 2024 Election Polling Data appeared first on HeadCount.