No Kings, the coalition known for organizing anti-Trump protests, is trying a different democratic tactic: increasing voter turnout.On Saturday, grassroot groups across the country will hold over 3,000 "No Kings: Vote Early" marches and other events.Organizers say these events are a nonpartisan effort to promote early voting in the midterm elections, and will involve helping people check their voter registration, make a plan to cast their ballot and understand their voting rights.The voting push effort marks a pivot for the No Kings coalition, which comprises hundreds of partner organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Black Voters Matter.No Kings has previously held three days of nationwide protests since the start of Trump's second term because organizers say Trump's actions in office are more akin to those of a monarch than a democratically elected head of state.
Trump has previously rejected the idea that he is behaving like a monarch."The first three No Kings were designed to send a message," says Ezra Levin, the co-founder of Indivisible — one of the major organizations within the No Kings network."We're done sending a message."Now, he says, they want people to vote.There are two main goals for the event, says Levin, the first is to help facilitate what he hopes will be the largest number of midterm early voting numbers in the country's history.The second goal is No Kings groups getting volunteers trained as poll watchers, an endeavor Levin says is in response to efforts by the Trump administration that he views as threats to election integrity.
Levin points to the failed SAVE America Act that would have required voters to show a document proving their U.S.citizenship, such as a passport or a birth certificate, when registering to vote.
He also raises concerns that federal immigration officers will be sent to the polls, and President Trump's attempted restrictions on voting by mail.Saturday's events vary widely across the country, f...