The upcoming No Kings mass demonstrations this weekend aim to mobilise voter turn-out for the upcoming 3 November US midterm elections.
On Saturday 17 October, cities across the US will be holding demonstrations to get Americans to the polls ahead of the 2026 midterm elections–what many see as key to preserving the country's democracy.
"No Kings Vote Early is the next step in reclaiming our power after a year of mass mobilisations," reads a statement on the No Kings website.
"It's a day of non-partisan voter participation, being in community with each other, and making sure every eligible voter has a plan, knows their options and is ready to make their voice count," the statement continues.
The midterms will take place on 3 November. Early voting has already started in multiple states, and many advocates are urging for people to cast their ballots as soon as possible to ensure their vote is secured.
According to polls, Democrats are expected to bring in a blue wave by reclaiming the House and possibly the Senate. US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly accused the Democrats of rigging the elections, has said that he will be sending election monitors to polling sites. He has also suggested sending in the military to the polls, which many critics see as voter intimidation.
The last several months have seen internal debates among protest organisers over whether or not they should continue holding mass demonstrations or focus on voter turnout. This event is brings together both camps.
"Voting early means your vote is locked in and safe, days before anyone else can decide what happens next," reads the demonstration's website. "No matter what the laws look like where you live, preparation is universal."
To date, three No Kings protests have taken place across the US, each having its own theme. The first one, in June 2025, was to compete with Trump’s America 250 concert that was also a celebration of his birthday. The demonstrations were a response to the suggestion that Trump was ruling as a king.
Previous No Kings protests, which serve as an umbrella of multiple coalitions have seen record turnouts, with the last one in March seeing at least 8 million attending nationwide.
"A blue wave could be a result of this mobilisation. They seem to be funneling all of these themes into policy," David Frank, a professor of rhetoric and political communication at the University of Oregon, told The New Arab. "I think it's a wise move by the organisers."