Politics
No Kings events turn focus to early voting as Nov. 3 midterms near
Hundreds of rallies were planned across the country Saturday, with organizers urging voters to participate early in the Nov. 3 elections. Events in Washington and Atlanta combined election appeals with criticism of President Donald Trump’s presidency.
No Kings organizers held rallies in communities across the United States on Saturday, urging people to vote early in the Nov. 3 midterm elections and raising concerns about election integrity.
The network said hundreds of events were planned. Organizers described them as nonpartisan, though the gatherings built on nearly two years of demonstrations opposing President Donald Trump’s presidency.
At the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., a crowd of what appeared to be several hundred people braved cold weather as a band played. Signs included messages such as “VOTE EARLY” and “HANDS OFF MY VOTE!”
In Atlanta, City Councilman Michael Julian Bond encouraged attendees to persuade others to vote. “The constitution gives you one power, right? That is the power to vote,” he told the crowd.
The rallies came amid escalating political disputes over voting. Trump has repeatedly questioned mail voting and made unsupported claims that fraud cost him the 2020 presidential election. His administration sued California election officials this week over mail ballots from people the federal government identifies as likely noncitizens, while the Justice Department warned local election workers of possible criminal investigations related to ballots submitted by suspected noncitizens.
Three Democratic senators also asked Attorney General Todd Blanche on Friday to pledge that the Justice Department would not seize ballots or other election materials before the midterms are certified.
Trump, speaking Wednesday at a Republican midterm convention, warned that a Democratic majority would take the country “back into the dark ages.” The Nov. 3 election will determine control of Congress and other offices nationwide.