We’re bringing back the block party!
Going to the polls should be a celebration of our power and our voice; of electing our advocates and representatives. But lately, our environment is skewing a little too far towards Black Mirror and quite far from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. So we’re reclaiming our time.
Vote the Block is an initiative DAN is hoping to share all across the LA area, the state of California, and even around the country, but the concept is incredibly simple. A host simply grabs their group of folks - be it the beauty shop ladies, the D&D party, or the your mutual aid group - and the group heads to the polls together. After everyone casts their ballot, the host will lead everybody to a celebration of their own imagining - a coffee shop to chat, a bar to raise a pint to democracy, or to your local playground to push each other on swings, we won’t judge.
What’s the point of that, you may ask? (Or probably did ask - we may have made this pitch a few times before.)
The point is to take the fear out of voting and to support your community in getting to the polls and exercising their rights. With threats of ICE standing outside polling places, with the proliferation of voter ID laws around the country, and the wholesale closure of polling places in some states, there’s a lot of pressure being exerted on Americans not to vote, which creates a fundamental threat to democracy.
And we’re all about democracy here at DAN. It’s in our name and everything.
So How does this work, exactly?
As part of a Vote the Block group, you can head to the polls together, coordinate online to mail-in or drop off your ballot at a ballot drop box, or vote however makes sense for you and your group.
Once you’ve done your civic duty and affixed an “I Voted” sticker somewhere on your body in lieu of a cape, then it’s time to channel your inner Bad Bunny bushes at a halftime show and shake it out. Head to your host’s chosen venue to watch the results roll in as you revel in a sense of community. Bring the Block Party back, and choose to embrace hope instead of fear.
We encourage those who are part of a virtual group to find their own way to celebrate! Have a virtual game night that’s overly competitive for absolutely zero stakes, judge your buddy Kevin for spraying the exterior of his cake pan as he attempts what is - theoretically - baking, or have a bad movie night to laugh at. The goal is just to connect with like-minded people who love our democracy as much as you do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Take a look below at our FAQ or reach out anytime to DAN_Committee@proton.me. If you’re feeling ready, go ahead and sign up to host!
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No, you can host in person, virtually, or with hybrid parties that take place separately from the voting.
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This is entirely optional. You can choose to meet beforehand and we will share resources for lead-up events if so desired.
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Your “Vote The Block Party” can be public or private e.g. if you want to host your local book club or local Elk’s Lodge chapter for a “Vote the Block” party, you can make it private for your existing members.
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No! DAN is based in LA, but we have members and partners across the U.S.
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There can be multiple hosts for a single Vote The Block Party. Please designate up to two main contacts to interface with DAN / be added to comms.
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Yes, it can cover whatever area hosts feel comfortable. If it spans more than one neighborhood, please pick a centrally located venue.
Toolkits
Listen, it’s very much by design that you don’t need a lot of stuff to hold a voting party, but you might end up wanting some stuff - explainers, social media assets, a decent chocolate cookie recipe.
While decent chocolate cookies are in the eye of the beholder, we have put together a toolkit for hosts to use to promote their events.
This is a living trove of goodies, which basically means that we’re going to be adding to the toolkit as we go - if you are signed up as a host, we’ll let you know when we do.
