Adding Voter Registration To Your Event Using HeadCount

Artists in the US can now help fans exercise their fundamental right to vote thanks to the non-partizan organization HeadCount, which helps register future voters at both in person and online events.

Guest post by Rudi Greenberg of Eventbrite

What do Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, and David Byrne all have in common, besides music? They each teamed up with HeadCount to register voters at their events, empowering fans to exercise their fundamental right to vote.  

Now, US event creators can do the same thanks to Eventbrite’s partnership with HeadCount, a non-partisan organization that registers people to vote at concerts and events across the country. Creators like you can now add “Register to Vote with HeadCount” as a free ticket type for online and in-person events — easily arming eligible attendees with the ability to register to vote online when buying tickets. 

“Tapping into Eventbrite’s engaged community of creators and attendees is a groundbreaking way to attract more people to register to vote,” says Andy Bernstein, HeadCount’s executive director. “This is the first time, as we know it, anyone has integrated voter registration into the ticket purchase process.”

At Eventbrite, we believe everyone has a civic responsibility to participate in Election Day — no matter what you believe or who you support. Yet in the 2016 presidential election, only 56% of the US voting-age population cast ballots, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Low voter turnout is often linked to such issues as confusion about deadlines, logistics, and election procedures. 

This year, with concerns about in-person voting due to COVID-19, many voters may also opt to vote early, vote-by-mail, or submit an absentee ballot if their state allows, adding to the Election Day confusion. With this new HeadCount integration, US creators can help keep their community of attendees informed about their voting options and increase turnout in November. 

“There is nothing more important than encouraging our voices to be heard and using our platform to drive change,” says Julia Hartz, co-founder and CEO of Eventbrite. “We’re proud to be breaking down barriers and enabling people across the U.S. to easily register to vote and get the information they need ahead of Election Day, because every vote matters.”

It’s easy to enable the free “Register to Vote” ticket type for your in-person and online events taking place in the US:

• First, navigate to your Event Manage page. Create an event and set up your basic event information: the name, location, and any other details. 
• If you want to add this ticket type to a pre-existing event, navigate to the tickets tab of that event.
• Once you create an admission ticket, hit save and you’ll see a new ticket type appear with an American flag icon and an Election Day message. 
• To opt in and turn on this ticket type for your event, select the toggle and a free “Register to Vote” ticket type will appear on your event (you can see this by navigating to the add-ons tab, or viewing your ticket listing page). That’s it! You have now enabled the ticket type to appear on your purchase page. 
• Ticket buyers will then be able to select it as an add-on to their order when registering for tickets to your event, and easily complete a voter registration application online. 

Note: Ticket add-ons, including this feature, are not available for event organizers in the essential package. 

All ticket buyers who choose the “Register to Vote” add-on will automatically receive in their confirmation email information on how to register to vote, check their voter status, and get updates and alerts on their polling place, ballot, and voting options. 

For creators, this free ticket add-on offers an easy way to help get your attendees involved in the political process.

“When we heard about this ‘Register to Vote’ ticket from Eventbrite, we were ecstatic,” says Hope King, co-founder of Get Your Teach On. “Our Get Your Teach On conferences are all about education and empowering teachers. Teachers are dedicated to their students, and their voices need to be heard. We feel there’s no better way to do that than through promoting civic engagement and exercising our rights to vote. We’re excited to include this ticket type for future events and help drive voter turnout this year.”

Together, Eventbrite and HeadCount are offering creators the most powerful ticket for transforming experiences into real action that drives civic engagement and social change.

“It’s a great public service,” Bernstein says. “And it doesn’t cost a thing.” 

Add voter registration to your next event!

Rudi Greenberg is a content editor at Eventbrite with a passion for covering music, comedy, and events. His writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Relix magazine, U.S. News & World Report, and DCist.