When We All Vote

When We All Vote
Name	When We All Vote
Formation	2018
Founders	Michelle Obama, Cindy McCain, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monáe
Type	Nonprofit organization
Purpose	Civic engagement, voter registration
Headquarters	United States
Region	United States

When We All Vote is a nonpartisan civic organization focused on increasing voter registration and turnout in the United States. Founded in 2018, it was publicly launched with high-profile events and celebrity endorsements and has worked across states, municipalities, and communities to influence electoral participation ahead of federal and local contests. The organization operates through partnerships with nonprofit groups, advocacy networks, and media outlets to mobilize voters around election cycles such as presidential, midterm, and municipal elections.

Background and Founding

The group emerged after the 2016 United States presidential election amid broader civic renewal efforts involving figures from politics, entertainment, and philanthropy, including Michelle Obama, Cindy McCain, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Janelle Monáe. Its launch intersected with initiatives by organizations like the Democratic National Committee, the Republican National Committee, Rock the Vote, and League of Women Voters while drawing attention from outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, and NBC News. Founding conversations referenced prior campaigns like the 2008 United States presidential election youth outreach, collaborations with the NAACP, and models from voter education efforts tied to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and state-level reforms such as those in North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Early supporters included entertainers who had worked on productions associated with Hamilton (musical), Black Panther (film), and networks like ABC, CBS, and Netflix.

Mission and Activities

The stated mission emphasizes registering eligible citizens and increasing turnout for contests including the United States Senate elections, United States House of Representatives elections, and state legislative races. Activities have included nationwide voter registration drives, public service campaigns on television network affiliates, phone banking, text messaging outreach, and partnerships with organizations like HeadCount, Voto Latino, When We All Vote-affiliated initiatives, and civic tech platforms used in campaigns such as those utilized by Barack Obama's 2008 and 2012 operations. Programs often engage volunteers from communities connected to institutions like Howard University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, and cultural partners including BET, Fox News, MTV, and Spotify. The organization has worked to coordinate get-out-the-vote efforts for elections involving figures like Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, and Mitch McConnell, although it maintains nonpartisan claims in public statements.

Leadership and Governance

Leadership includes founding board members from the worlds of politics, philanthropy, and entertainment, with governance practices modeled on nonprofit standards from organizations such as the United Nations Foundation and the Ford Foundation. Publicly visible leaders have included Michelle Obama alongside advisory contributors from civic groups like the Brennan Center for Justice, Common Cause, and the Bipartisan Policy Center. Board composition and executive oversight have been discussed in media outlets alongside reporting on governance practices in nonprofits led by celebrities, such as those involving Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney, and Ben Affleck. The organization files annual forms consistent with requirements enforced by the Internal Revenue Service for 501(c)(3) entities and engages auditors and counsel familiar with election-related compliance referenced by firms advising campaigns for politicians such as Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

Partnerships and Funding

Funding sources combine philanthropic grants, donations from individuals, and corporate in-kind support; reported partners have included foundations like the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, and corporate media partners such as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Apple. Collaborative efforts have been made with community organizations including NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, League of Women Voters, Rock the Vote, Power to the Polls, and civic groups that worked on prior mobilizations in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Financial disclosures and major gifts have prompted comparisons to funding models used by advocacy networks tied to figures like Mark Zuckerberg's philanthropies and election season operations of Priorities USA and other political action entities, while maintaining distinctions required by nonprofit law.

Public Impact and Criticism

Supporters credit the group with registering thousands of voters and amplifying participation in contests such as the 2018 United States elections and the 2020 United States presidential election, while critics question celebrity-led mobilization practices and measure impact against turnout data from sources like the U.S. Census Bureau and state election boards in Georgia, Arizona, and Wisconsin. Commentators from outlets including The Atlantic, Politico, The New Yorker, and Bloomberg have debated efficacy, outreach strategies, and partisanship. Legal scholars from institutions such as Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, and Stanford Law School have weighed in on compliance with voter registration statutes and the implications of nonprofit engagement in civic life. Allegations and critiques have addressed transparency, allocation of funds, and relationship dynamics with partisan actors referenced in coverage of election cycles involving Nancy Pelosi and Kevin McCarthy.

Notable Campaigns and Events

High-profile campaigns have coincided with national events such as the 2018 midterm elections, the 2020 presidential campaign, and coordinated get-out-the-vote efforts for the 2022 United States midterm election. Public events have featured performances and speeches by individuals associated with Hamilton (musical), appearances on programs like The Ellen DeGeneres Show and coverage on Good Morning America, and volunteer mobilizations in cities including Atlanta, Detroit, Houston, Phoenix, and Philadelphia. Collaborations have extended to media initiatives similar to those conducted around the March for Our Lives movement and voter education efforts linked to the Supreme Court of the United States decisions affecting election administration.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in the United States