RIDE TO THE POLLS
Ride to the Polls is a culturally rooted voter engagement program designed to increase youth participation and overall voter registration and turnout in Arizona’s Indigenous communities. The program aims to amplify the voices of historically disenfranchised, rural reservation communities by combining civic engagement with cultural expression. Our model integrates a dynamic art campaign with on-the-ground activations, ensuring that visual storytelling and creative expression inspire action. Led and supported by Native youth, our program includes voter registration drives, early voting mobilization events that celebrate the subcultures of Indigenous communities, and Election Day trail rides that reconnect communities with traditional modes of transportation. Through these efforts, we not only increase voter participation but also empower the next generation of Indigenous leaders to take an active role in shaping their future.
THE PROBLEM
In recent years, more than 100 anti-voting bills have been introduced in Arizona particularly aimed at disenfranchising communities of color - particularly young voters and Native Americans living on reservations. As a result, young Indigenous voters feel disempowered and question their participation after turning out to vote in historic numbers in the 2022 midterms.
THE SOLUTION
Inspire and empower Indigenous youth (16 -35 years old) to understand, reclaim and honor their collective power through narrative strategies, culturally-relevant content, and joyful on-the-ground community activations, to ensure they continue registering voters, turning out the vote and building on the momentum they began in 2022.
APPROACH
Original Content
Creation
Ally Building
Art Campaign
Culturally Relevant Activations
2026 ACTIVATIONS
Hoop to the Polls
June*
A high-energy voter registration and education event tapping into the cultural power of basketball—including "Rez Ball," the fast-paced, beloved subculture of the Native American community. Voter registration tables will be set up throughout the venue to turn community pride into civic action.
3 - Youth-Led Activations
July - September*
Three Native Youth Summit alumni will lead voter registration and education events across Arizona and parts of New Mexico. Each activation will be fully youth-driven, with support from Protect the Sacred staff on planning, logistics, and funding. These events will reflect the vision and leadership of Native youth committed to civic engagement in their communities.
Skate to the Polls
October*
In longtime partnership with Apache Skateboards, this high-energy event combines a skateboarding competition, heavy metal concert, cultural food vendors, and on-site voter registration to mobilize Native youth.
Solidarity Ride &
Country Concert
October*
A powerful horseback trail ride to an early voting site in Window Rock, AZ (the capital of the Navajo Nation) aimed at mobilizing the Native vote ahead of the midterm elections. The day includes a sunrise ride, early ballot casting, voter education panel discussions, and a country concert—blending tradition, civic action, celebration and cross-cultural solidarity to protect the sacred right to vote.
*Dates are subject to change.
"We're celebrating the work that we’ve done. It's a commemoration of the long struggle, the resilience, and resistance, and beauty of this culture and value of this culture in the United States."
Mark Ruffalo
Actor, Director, Producer, Advocate
LOOKING BACK
2020
Ride to the Polls Launch (early vote mobilization)
2022 (Midterms)
- Skate to the Polls (voter registration event)
-
Solidarity Trail Ride (early voting mobilization & PSA)
-
Election Day Ride to the Polls Trail Ride
2024
Ride for Democracy GOTV + Art Campaign
-
Skate for Democracy + Rez Metal Concert (voter registration event)
-
Saddle Up for Change Trail Ride Voter Registration Tour (6 community stops)
-
Ride for Democracy Bull Riding + Country Concert (voter registration event)
-
Walk to the Polls: Honoring 100 Years of Citizenship & Beyond + Youth Pizza Party with Mark Ruffalo (early voting mobilization event)
-
Election Day Ride to the Polls Trail Ride (voter mobilization event)
-
Youth Fellow Voter Registration + Education Activations
-
Reclaiming Shima Nahasdzáán (Chazlyn Curley)
-
When Natives Vote (Ian Teller)
-
Fireside Chat
Just Vote Beer Launch & GOTV Conversation - a community collaboration beer with Bow & Arrow Brewing Co. Each can label displayed a QR code, which directed consumers to Ridetothepolls.com to check voter registration status and register to vote.
White House Invitations
-
February: Convening on Voting Rights with Vice President Kamala Harris
-
July: Convening on Native American Voting Rights
-
October: Official Event with President Joe Biden and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland (Formal Apology for Indian Boarding School Era)
-
December: Vice President Kamala Harris & Mr. Doug Emhoff Holiday Reception
2024 IMPACT
2024 PARTNERS
Community Leaders & Special Guests who joined our movement on the ground:
-
Cara Jade Myers
-
Mark Ruffalo
-
Wilmer Valderrama
-
Frank Young II
-
Douglas Miles Sr.
-
Douglas Miles Jr.
-
Jonathan Nez
-
Tonia Jo Hall
-
Doggface
-
Levi Platero
-
Ahtza Chavez
-
Najiah Knight
-
Teddy & Justin Granger
-
Dirt Rhodes
-
Bill Crawley & The Good Ol’ Boys
-
Scotti Clifford
-
Dzaki Sukarno
-
Under Exile
-
Sage Bond
-
Liłith
-
Jade Begay
-
Ginger Sykes Torres
-
Sheila Begay, MTA Horse Tours
-
Julia Walsh
Allies who helped to amplify our efforts through their networks and online:
-
President Barack Obama
-
Mark Ruffalo
-
Wilmer Valderrama
-
Cara Jade Myers
-
Kacey Musgraves
-
Piper Perabo
-
Leonardo DiCaprio
-
Marisa Tomei
-
Jewel
-
Ashley Judd
