What began with millions taking to the streets to demand accountability has evolved into the largest single day vote early activation for the ballot box. By providing clear pathways for communities to vote early, No Kings turned grassroots protests into electoral action to ensure every voice is heard this election cycle.
The local protest rally at Culver City’s City Hall turned out more than four times the usual attendance on a Saturday, and people were lined up on Culver Blvd. from Duquesne Ave. up to Irving Place, waving signs to enthusiastic drivers honking as they passed.
New voter turnout data highlights a strong correlation between the No Kings: Vote Early national day of action on Saturday, October 17, and measurable voter engagement across the country.
According to a new analysis by TargetSmart, early voting surged by 51% in ZIP codes that hosted a No Kings event compared to the same relative Saturday in the 2022 midterm elections (October 22, 2022). Across the 13 states analyzed — Georgia (46 Events), Indiana (46 Events), Maine (32 Events), Minnesota (88 Events), North Carolina (71 Events), Nebraska (15 Events), New Mexico (29 Events), Nevada (22 Events), Ohio (79 Events), South Dakota (8 Events), Tennessee (24 Events), Virginia (85 Events), and Wyoming (14 Events) — overall early voting was up 32%, meaning communities with a No Kings event outperformed the general statewide increase by 19 percentage points. These states were selected for analysis as they have the most complete early voting data available.
The data also highlights a surge in historically underrepresented voters: in ZIP codes with a No Kings event, early voting among voters of color increased by 90% compared to 2022, versus a 29% increase among white voters.
The coalition’s historic mobilization succeeded despite unexpected attempts at digital suppression. At the peak of Saturday’s events, Meta temporarily suspended the official No Kings Coalition Instagram account (@nokingscoalition) and locked administrators out for over four hours.
In response, the No Kings Coalition has issued an open letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg demanding public answers to nine detailed questions regarding content moderation, automated AI systems, and potential communications with political actors.
When social media platforms block or suppress grassroots organizing, they directly cut voters off from essential information and disrupt communities actively trying to make plans and vote early.
Meta has been given a deadline of 5:00 p.m. PT on Wednesday, October 21, to publicly respond. More information on the ongoing inquiry into Big Tech censorship can be found at nokings.org/metacensorship.
Groups who organized the No Kings: Vote Early events across the country include the ACLU, American Federation of Teachers, Black Voters Matter Fund, 50501, Indivisible, League of Women Voters, MoveOn, Public Citizen, State Voices, and Voto Latino, among others.
No Kings
Additional text – Judith Martin-Straw
Photo credit – Pam Teplitz
