No Kings Rallies Push Early Voting Across Three States

Grassroots organizers in Florida, Washington state and Illinois are preparing Oct. 17 rallies to encourage early voting ahead of the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. The events will bring together supporters of the No Kings movement while emphasizing ballot access, voter participation and the importance of casting ballots before Election Day.

More than 70 demonstrations are planned across Florida, according to a report by the USA TODAY Network. In Centralia, Washington, Rural Lewis County Indivisibles will focus on tax policy and election participation, while Indivisible West Suburban Chicago plans a nonpartisan voting rally in Western Springs.

Florida's statewide early voting period begins Oct. 24, with voting starting in Leon County on Oct. 19. Washington's Lewis County voters are expected to receive ballots beginning Oct. 14, although delivery times may vary. In the Chicago area, absentee voting at various locations also begins Oct. 19.

Susan Gage of Indivisible Tallahassee said organizers are timing their event to encourage voters to prepare before early voting begins locally.

"Our focus this time is really upon the fact that were going to be doing this right before early voting starts in Leon County," Gage said.

The Tallahassee rally will feature speakers addressing voting participation and concerns such as long lines, bad weather and election-related stress. Organizing the demonstration also requires volunteers to coordinate Capitol grounds access, notify police, arrange sound equipment and recruit speakers and musicians.

Gage said organizers also help residents in smaller communities participate despite limited gathering spaces and other logistical challenges.

"There's a lot of support offered to people in more rural, more isolated areas, to help them figure out how they can also be part of this movement," Gage said.

In Centralia, Rural Lewis County Indivisibles will hold its No Kings 4: Vote Early Lewis County — National Day of Action from noon to 3 p.m. Oct. 17 at George Washington Park. The organization is combining voter outreach with opposition to efforts to repeal Washington state's recently enacted income tax legislation.

The group reported that more than 58% of eligible Lewis County voters did not participate in the Aug. 4 primary. It also cited changes in postal processing, including the routing of Lewis County mail through Tacoma, as reasons voters should consider early voting or using ballot drop boxes.

"Recently, the USPS Postmaster General caused mail postmarking timing to vary widely, often taking much longer than it used to by greatly decreasing the number of postmarking locations," Rural Lewis County Indivisibles wrote in its news release.

The organization added that the change has practical implications for local voters.

"For example, Lewis County mail is now postmarked in Tacoma. This makes early voting and using a ballot drop box very important," the group wrote.

The group also argued that Washington's tax structure places a disproportionate burden on lower-income residents, citing figures that the poorest 20% of the population pay 13% of their total income in taxes, compared with 4.1% for the richest 1%. The legislation addressing the tax system is scheduled to take effect in 2029.

In its statement, the organization linked household financial pressures to the political debate over tax policy.

"families can't afford gasoline, healthcare, food, and housing. Costs are pushing people to the brink, while we’re forced to pay for ballrooms, forever wars, concentration camps and illegal tariffs. Our WA State Legislature finally passed legislation, set to take effect 2029, to address this unfair tax system. However, an uber-rich hedge fund manager bankrolled an Initiative to try and block it before working families and small businesses begin to benefit from the relief it will provide," Rural Lewis County Indivisibles wrote.

The organization said the upcoming election will determine the future of the tax debate.

"A fight to improve tax fairness will be on the ballot," the group wrote.

The Centralia gathering will include local speakers, sign waving, performances by the Lewis County Singing Resistance, prize giveaways, face painting, games and a food truck. Organizers said the event will prioritize early voting over the display contest featured at a previous rally.

"A major difference this time is that instead of a display contest we are focusing heavily on early voting," Rural Lewis County Indivisibles wrote.

In Western Springs, Indivisible West Suburban Chicago will hold its rally from 1 to 2 p.m. Oct. 17 at Tower Green, 914 Hillgrove Ave. Unlike earlier demonstrations, the event will not feature anti-Trump signs or chants and will not host political candidates.

Mike Waters, 68, of La Grange, a member of the organization's leadership team, described the gathering as an effort to increase voter participation.

"It’s to get people excited about voting and, more specifically, to encourage them to vote early if possible," Waters said.

Organizers plan to distribute information about early voting at Metra stations in Brookfield, La Grange and Western Springs during the week of Oct. 19. Waters said voting before Election Day gives residents more flexibility and time to address potential problems with their registration.

He explained that casting a ballot early can help voters avoid unexpected conflicts on Election Day.

"Another is, you avoid any potential conflicts on Election Day. Something may come up where you’re unable to vote," Waters said.

Waters also raised concerns about possible election-day disruptions and said voting early could give people time to resolve registration issues.

"This way, if people learn their voter registration has been voided for some reason, they have time to fix it. Or, you know, worst case scenario is Trump does have people out at the polls, National Guard, ICE, whatever, people don’t have to deal with that," Waters said.

He emphasized that the Western Springs rally is open to voters regardless of political affiliation and will not endorse individual candidates.

"Absolutely, anybody can come. We’re not supporting any particular candidates at this event. No candidates will be speaking. … We’re hoping to make it fun and festive," Waters said.

The event will feature light refreshments, live music and a skit by two Indivisible members about early voting. Waters said he views the November election as particularly consequential and argued that congressional representation is an important consideration.

"This is probably the most important non-presidential election of my life," Waters said.

He connected his concerns about the administration and congressional Republicans to the role of the upcoming election.

"the increasingly erratic behavior from Trump and the Republicans in Congress are obviously not going to do anything about it, it’s important Democrats win at the least the House, if not the House and Senate, to provide some checks and balances," Waters said.

Mary Ann Quinlan, 69, of Western Springs, another member of the local leadership team, said organizers want to reach voters who typically participate only in presidential elections. She noted that early voting can help people prepare for unexpected developments.

"may seem like a small thing," Quinlan said.

She said organizers hope early voting will give people more time to address problems before the election.

"We want people to have a chance to protect from last-minute surprises," Quinlan said.

Quinlan also said voter awareness remains a challenge, with some residents unaware that an election is scheduled for Nov. 3.

"We’re also hoping with more early votes, word will get out. There are so many who don’t know there’s an election on Nov. 3. Many people only vote in the presidential election," Quinlan said.

She said organizers see voting as an additional way for participants to influence public life.

"we now have another tool and that’s the ballot box. That’s why this event has a different flavor," Quinlan said.

Quinlan described broad participation as central to protecting democratic processes.

"Voting itself is an act of resistance and the best voter protection tool, democracy saving tool we have is a big turnout," Quinlan said.

She added that the campaign aims to encourage participation across the eligible electorate.

"We’re trying to get every eligible voter to vote because that’s what democracy is all about," Quinlan said.

The Western Springs rally will provide pamphlets containing QR codes directing voters to local government resources and organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, for early voting information. Waters said no additional No Kings rallies are planned before Election Day.