"Our vote is our voice. It is our power. It is the key to our ability to express ourselves and build the community and the country we want to live in", declared former First Lady Michelle Obama.

On Tuesday, October 29th, 2024, the nonprofit organization, When We All Vote, held a “Get Out the Vote Rally”. It was held in College Park, Georgia, targeting voting-age high schoolers and college students. When We All Vote is leading a nonpartisan initiative to improve civic engagement and increase participation in each and every election. The rally was especially important given that it was held 3 days before early voting ended in Georgia on November 1st, and it was held 7 days before Election Day on November 5th.

The Get Out the Vote Rally was nonpartisan and had no affiliation with political campaigns or parties. When We All Vote Executive Director Beth Lynk stated, "When We All Vote is a nonpartisan organization on a mission to change the culture around voting. This means you won't hear anything tonight about specific candidates or races. Our goal is bigger than that. We want to help people recognize their vote matters and empower them to use it, particularly folks who've been historically left out."

In attendance at the rally was mostly voting age youth who were learning the importance of using voting to express their voices. Many buses of college students and first-time voters arrived to celebrate making youth voices heard and bringing their energy to the polls and ballot box. 

At the rally, two first-time voters, Desana and Mason, shared their experiences of voting early.

 "I cast my ballot with my parents and I felt a sense of joy and liberation," stated Desana. "Joy, because I have reached a major milestone and liberation, well, because I finally have a say."

Mason stated, "I was so excited to have a voice, not only in my community, but as well as in my country.”

Singer Victoria Monét was also present to rally the crowd of thousands of eager first-time voters and youth. "The possible consequences of not using your voice are far more complex and will last way longer than the voting process itself.”

At the rally, each student present was encouraged to create a “voting squad” and get at least 5 friends to vote. First Lady Michelle Obama urged young people to vote "in every single election, every single time."

Georgia was particularly targeted for this rally because Georgia is a swing state. Since Georgia is a swing state, voter outreach is key to ensuring voter turnout. A swing state means that a state can easily be won by either party. This is why key battleground states like Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin are being targeted as Election Day rapidly approaches.

As singer Ciara stated, "We work hard. We get the job done. And we make history."