Musicians play for Election Day voters for moment of normalcy and hope

The Met Opera Orchestra Played For NYC Voters While They Stood On Line At The Polls Yesterday

Outside Carbondale Town Hall, which served as one of Garfield County’s three Voter Service and Polling Centers on Tuesday, musicians Natalie Spears and Nick Pinto were playing music for voters as they came and went.

It was part of the national Play for the Vote initiative, started by Boston cellist Mike Block, to provide live music at polling places across the country.

We spoke to Perelman who tells us she was participating in #playforthevote, a recently formed, non-partisan effort encouraging musicians to perform at local polling sites around the country. The initiative was launched by Boston cellist Mike Block after the first presidential debate.

"Everybody has so much anxiety in this election that having the music just relaxes people and makes it feel more peaceful. I think it gives people hope. People are still good people, they’re trying to help each other, they’re bringing music and food and they’re bringing some joy to the polls" said Drucker.

As voters cast their ballots, the Mana Music Quartet and Puamana performed under a canopy tent on the lawn fronting the Mission Memorial Building.

Community members entertain voters waiting in line to relieve some election anxiety

Somerville Cellist Mike Block Brings Music To Voters, Nationwide

Local musicians play at City Heights polls

This year’s first presidential debate created lots of buzz but it also birthed a new idea. A Boston musician solicited performers across the country to play the stress away as voters wait in line this Election Day.

If you’ve got the musical chops to entertain a live audience, there’s probably a line of voters nearby who would love to hear it.

Musicians hold concerts for voters waiting in line.

“Music has this unique power to create shared unifying experiences and we haven't really had that this year.”

Musicians across the country are signing up to perform at polling locations on Election Day to make the experience more positive, and hopefully, increase voter turnout.

Reporters went to polling places on Sacramento State's campus and the surrounding areas to see what wait times were like and to talk to voters about their experience in this year's election

As voters cast their ballots, the Mana Music Quartet and Puamana performed under a canopy tent on the lawn fronting the Mission Memorial Building.

The performances are part of a line-up for “Play for the Vote,” an effort organized by founder and director Mike Block where musicians are performing at in-person voting locations today to increase voter turnout in the general election and create a positive experience.

In the Banks Public Library parking lot, more than 100 feet from the one of Washington County's 21 ballot drop boxes, Lauren Sheehan is strumming a guitar. She's there as a volunteer for the "Play For The Vote" organization, a nonpartisan group that aims to increase voter turnout with the help of music.

Four weeks ago, cello alum Mike Block had a brainstorm. After watching the first presidential debate, he’d been thinking about how stressful the prospect of the election—and even the process of voting—was turning out to be.