Project to use local art to increase voter turnout

Voter turnout at Philadelphia elections is generally suboptimal; yet, this year might be dramatically different.

“Next Stop: Democracy” is a new civic engagement project that has hired 60 Philadelphia artists to create eye-catching “vote here” signs for the upcoming City Council elections on Nov. 3. The signs will be placed near polling sites in an attempt to draw people’s attention and encourage more of them to vote, given that these elections directly impact their community.

The “Next Stop: Democracy” project will involve 40 locations in total. Twenty of these locations will contain the artwork, serving as the experimental group. The remaining sites will be monitored as the control group in order to determine the effects of art on voter turnout.

According to Project Director Lansie Sylvia, the goal of the art exhibit is two-fold. On the one hand, the project is a potential vehicle through which the City of Philadelphia can increase voter participation in elections. On the other hand, the project also serves to create a more enjoyable experience for all voters. The latter was the primary inspiration for “Next Stop: Democracy” because, as Sylvia said, “For many citizens, voting for the first time can be a very intimidating experience,” which repels people every year. Sylvia said she hopes that the art exhibit will impact the tone outside of the polling place by making it more welcoming.

What can students do to have an impact? Sylvia encouraged students to register to vote in Philadelphia, given that the issues at hand, such as bicycle lanes and LGBT protection, are pertinent to University students.

“If you’re going to be here for four years, you need to make it your home, and for it to be your home, you need to be an active citizen,” Sylvia said.

According to City Commissioner Stephanie Singer, voter participation has always been low in Philadelphia. She added that one main issue of low voter participation is that people are unaware of when elections take place, which will be addressed by the “Next Stop: Democracy” Project. However, there are several other issues, including the lack of millennial voters who claim they don’t have enough information to make a decision.

“Every election, Philadelphia passes up a chance to demand respect and resources from the rest of the state,” Singer said.

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