On Saturday, thousands of people gathered at Seattle Center for the “Vote Early” event, focused on voting rights, local issues and civic engagement ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The event was part of the nationwide No Kings movement, whose rallies have previously been largely aimed at opposing Donald Trump. This time, organizers emphasized nonpartisan voter mobilization, although participants still carried anti-government and anti-Trump signs.
After the march, Hayward Evans, president of the Seattle-King County NAACP branch, called the upcoming elections critically important and urged residents to vote in large numbers. Movement representatives stressed that people in Washington state trust the work of local election officials, but said the situation may be less reliable in other parts of the country. Voters were advised not to delay mailing their ballots and to use official ballot drop boxes, amid criticism from the Trump administration of voting by mail.
Throughout the day, there were musical performances, a march against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, or ICE, and a fair where people could register to vote and learn about ballot security and positions on state initiatives. Participants chanted “ICE Out” and “Free Palestine,” while organizations discussed issues including a millionaires’ tax, parents’ access to their children’s medical records and the participation of transgender female athletes in women’s competitions. The Voter Protection Alliance distributed instructions on checking ballot status at voter.votewa.gov and announced a webinar on potential obstacles facing voters. The event ended peacefully: police reported thousands of participants and no arrests.
Based on: At latest No Kings rally in Seattle, thousands say, ‘Your vote matters’