VOTE BY PAL
Vote By Pal is an online tool that connects Americans who can vote but don't want to with Americans who wish they could vote, but can't.
Vote By Pal is an art project by social practice artist
Donna Oblongata.
It is very simple and not high tech at all.
Here's how it works:
Fill out the simple form below, specifying whether you're a registered voter or are unable to vote.
You'll then be connected with a voting "pal." If you're registered to vote, you'll be connected to someone who can't vote. If you can't vote, you'll be connected to someone who can.
Once you've been connected with your new pal, the person who can't vote can tell the person who can vote who they would vote for if they could.
The registered voter can then choose to vote the suggestions of their pal. They are of course under no obligation to do so. That would be illegal.
Created by social practice artist Donna Oblongata, Vote By Pal Launched in 2020, and has come back for 2024, with the understanding that many Americans remain extremely frustrated/apathetic/hopeless about the prospect of voting. Simultaneously, many Americans are disenfranchised (due to criminal records, immigration status, etc.) and feel passionately about the potential power of voting. Vote By Pal leverages and highlights the power of solidarity by offering folks who are resistant or apathetic about voting the opportunity to vote on behalf of a disenfranchised "pal" that the project connects them with.
In 2020, Vote By Pal connected multiple sets of pals, and resulted in real votes being cast when they likely wouldn't have otherwise. The Philadelphia Inquirer commissioned an op-ed about the project from Donna Oblongata, which can be read here.
Vote By Pal is not about "maximizing turnout" or getting any one person or party into office.
Ready to Vote By Pal?
All information you enter is confidential.
Only your name, pronouns, and contact information will be shared with your designated pal, and no one else.
