The group behind the nationwide “No Kings” protests is trading street marches for voter drives this Saturday. Organizers say thousands of events are planned in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., with one goal: getting people to vote early in the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
The day is called “No Kings: Vote Early.” It is the fourth No Kings day of action, and it looks different from the first three.
What is happening Saturday
As of Wednesday, organizers counted more than 2,500 events. NPR reported that thousands of people turned out for rallies, marches and community gatherings focused on early voting. Newsweek reported more than 3,000 were planned. Instead of one huge march in each city, many of the events are small and local. Organizers list walks to the polls, canvassing, block parties, voter registration tables and rallies centered on early voting.
In-person early voting has already started in more than half of U.S. states, and some of those polling places are open on weekends. In Michigan, groups planned dozens of local rallies and gatherings. In Arizona, more than 70 events were on the schedule, including in Phoenix, Tucson, Tempe and Flagstaff. In Harrison, Arkansas, local organizers planned to stand outside the county courthouse and help people make a voting plan.
Who is behind it
The steering committee has nine groups, including Indivisible. The wider coalition includes 50501, the ACLU, MoveOn, the League of Women Voters, Black Voters Matter Fund, Voto Latino, Public Citizen and State Voices.
Organizers say Saturday’s events are nonpartisan. They do not allow candidate endorsements or campaign activity. Elected officials may appear in their official roles, but the events are meant to focus on voters, not on specific campaigns. As with earlier No Kings events, organizers say everything is nonviolent and involves no civil disobedience.
How it differs from earlier protests
The first No Kings protests came on June 14, 2025, the same day as a military parade in Washington. Others followed on Oct. 18, 2025, and March 28, 2026. Those drew millions of people into the streets. The name comes from organizers’ belief that President Donald Trump is acting more like a monarch than a leader in a democracy.
Ezra Levin, co-founder of Indivisible, said this one is meant to use a different constitutional right, the right to vote, rather than only the right to protest. He said the measure of success this time will be how many people vote early. He added that the next No Kings event will be Election Day.
Early voting so far
Early voting is underway in several battleground states. Georgia, where early turnout has reached record levels, is one of them. Voters in most states who vote early follow the same steps as on Election Day. They check in, receive a ballot, mark it and turn it in.
Some critics have noted that the name “No Kings” no longer fits an event about voting. Organizers describe the day as “a celebration, an orientation, and an activation,” according to a spokesperson quoted by Newsweek.
What to know if you want to vote early
- Check your state or county election website for early voting dates, hours and locations.
- Bring any ID your state requires.
- If you plan to vote by mail, check your state’s deadline for returning the ballot.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. See which governor races are also on the ballot.
