What We Are
Election Day: Our Civic Holiday is a nonpartisan civic initiative calling on Americans to treat Election Day the way it deserves to be treated — as a community event, a day of action, and a celebration of the most fundamental right we have.
We are not affiliated with any political party, candidate, or campaign. We believe, simply, that voters should pick our leaders — and every vote cast should be counted. That belief spans every race, place, and party.
What a Civic Holiday Means
A civic holiday is different from a personal day off. Think about the holidays that mean the most to us — not the ones where we sit on the couch, but the ones where we show up for something bigger than ourselves. That's what Election Day can be.
- If you haven't voted — vote.
- If you have — help someone else vote.
- Drive a neighbor. Staff a polling place. Show up with music and good energy. Make it a celebration.
Voting is how we impact our lives — our healthcare, our schools, our wages, our neighborhoods. Every eligible American deserves equal say in those decisions. The civic holiday is how we make sure that actually happens.
Why This Matters Right Now
Eligible voters are being removed from rolls without warning. New requirements — passports, birth certificates, proof of citizenship — are being added that are specifically harder for working people, elderly Americans, people with disabilities, and Black and Brown communities to produce. Polling locations are being cut in communities that need them most. Mail-in voting is under sustained pressure.
This isn't about making elections more trustworthy. It's about controlling who gets to participate. A political party earns your vote. What's happening now is something else entirely.
The civic holiday is one of six coordinated steps in the Election Protection Playbook — and it's one of the most visible and joyful ones. When millions show up, it becomes much harder to keep people from voting.
Part of a Larger Playbook
The civic holiday is Step 4 of the Election Protection Playbook. The full plan: reach the 89 million who sat out the last election, check and protect voter registrations, vote early as a collective act, treat Election Day as a civic holiday, witness every vote being counted, and — if results are not honored — economic non-cooperation.
You can read the full playbook and find organizing resources at the resources section of our homepage.
Who We Are
This initiative was built by everyday people who believe citizenship is something you practice, not just something you hold. We are a nonpartisan project. Our work draws on research and guidance from the Hands Off Our Vote messaging project and the Protect the Election Training materials.
Want to get involved beyond Election Day? Reach out.
Ready to observe the Civic Holiday?
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