Create The Vote
All images on this page are by Lauren Miller Photography.
BUILDING CHAMPIONS FOR ARTS & CULTURE IN PUBLIC OFFICE
Create the Vote builds a bridge between the creative sector in Massachusetts and candidates who are running for public office through roundtables, forums, voter education, and voter turnout. We mobilize the creative sector to actively participate in state and local elections to generate more public support for arts, culture, and creativity, and to elevate the sector’s stories of impact.
For more than a decade, Create the Vote has organized campaigns around local elections, including Boston mayoral races in 2013 and 2025, Massachusetts House and Senate races, and statewide such as the Gubernatorial race in 2014 and Lieutenant Governor’s race in 2022.
Together, we are demonstrating the electoral power of the creative sector in Massachusetts and using our voices to increase civic education, voter education, and turnout.
activate your community THIS ELECTION
There are many ways to organize your community during election seasons to convince candidates running for public office to prioritize the creative sector and champion cultural policy priorities. A couple of proven and effective ways of building legislative support for arts and culture are holding candidate roundtables and candidate forums.
Check out our toolkits to host your own Candidate Roundtable or Forum. These toolkits break down how to prepare for your event and how to build a coalition of support.
GET OUT THE VOTE
The other critical part about activating your community during elections is participating in, or leading, Get Out The Vote (GOTV) initiatives. It’s not enough to hold roundtables and forums - we need to hold candidates accountable by voting in every election and bringing others along with us. Artists, creatives, cultural organizations, and creative businesses have vital platforms they can use to provide essential voter education, including sharing election dates and voter registration deadlines.
Check out our GOTV toolkit to build your mobilizing strategy, read about best practices, and find additional resources for social media campaigns, tabling, and phonebanking.
You can also download our Massachusetts Voters’ Bill of Rights, Arts & Culture Voting Guide Template, and flier about making a plan to vote in 2026.
GET REGISTERED
You can register to vote in Massachusetts online, by mail, or in person. To vote in a primary or general election, you must register at least 10 days before the election date.
You are eligible to vote in Massachusetts if you are a U.S. citizen, a resident of Massachusetts, 18 years or older, and not currently incarcerated by reason of a felony conviction.
You can pre-register to vote in Massachusetts if you are a U.S. citizen, a resident of Massachusetts, 16 or 17 years old, and not currently incarcerated by reason of a felony conviction.
Massachusetts citizens can automatically register to vote when you apply for or renew your driver’s license at the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), apply for or renew a learner's permit, apply for or renew a state ID, apply for MassHealth benefits, or apply for health insurance through the Massachusetts Health Connector.
If you moved after the last election, you can update your voter registration online. If you are re-applying for health insurance or a driver's license when you update your address, you will be automatically registered to vote at your new address.
You can learn more about how to vote, upcoming elections, and check your registration status on the Secretary of Commonwealth’s website.
You can find additional voter resources on the Massachusetts Voter Table’s website.
LEARN HOW 501(C)(3)S CAN GET INVOLVED
As trusted community leaders and hubs, cultural organizations can play an essential role in sharing accurate voter information and encouraging civic participation.
For example, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status can hold voter registration drives, host candidate forums, and encourage participation in the census.
They cannot publicly support a candidate running for office, make campaign contributions for or against a candidate, provide in-kind support for candidates, or host fundraisers for candidates.
MASSCreative has a guide available for nonprofit leaders about how they can advocate, lobby, and participate in elections within the scope of their 501(c)(3) status. Learn more by visiting our blog.
QUESTIONS?
If you have questions for our team or are interested in getting more involved, please send us an email.
