"No Kings" Early Voting And Turnout Events Today

Today's focus on early voting and turnout couldn't be more important.  Please engage in "No Kings" events today:

Millions of Americans are expected to gather in big cities and small towns and vote early on Saturday, Oct. 17, in a continuation of the popular No Kings protests.

In Indianapolis, two groups plan to march to the governor's residence. In Michigan, one event will be Halloween-themed; another asks participants to bring signs and American flags. In downtown Phoenix, protesters plan to march to the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center to drop off their ballots.

The more than 3,000 actions focus on early voting and turnout rather than protesting like the previous three No Kings events, which drew millions of Americans into the streets at rallies in large cities and small towns nationwide.

Public Citizen's Co-President Lisa Gilbert told USA TODAY that the events are "a strategic move and a critical one to help people exercise the most tangible aspect of their power that counters all the abuses we've been seeing, which is voting. So it's a massive day of voter participation, one where we are helping folks lean into voter power as a statement on what democracy is and should be."

The No Kings protests have been a way for Americans to show their frustration with the Trump administration's policies. Voting is another way to make that statement, Gilbert said.

"It's so critical that people vote, that they vote early, that we show in a landslide that this is not an acceptable way to govern," she said.

Expected events include marches to the polls, voting information booths, speakers, and vehicle parades to voting locations.

In Atlanta, Black Voters Matter is hosting a party with food trucks and music before moving as a group to a polling location. In Ferndale, Michigan, and Eagle County, Colorado, participants in superhero costumes will ride in decorated bikes or wagons on their way to vote. In Chester, Pennsylvania, there will be a tailgate party at a ballot drop box location.  [snip]

No Kings organizers said the goal is to create voter turnout so historically high that it would be hard for the Trump administration to claim there was fraud.

Look for events near you today here and please get involved.