Get A Phone Call From Willie Nelson Or ?uestlove

A dozen rock stars are volunteering with HeadCount.org to get fans to the polls Nov. 2 as part of the organization’s “Pledge to Vote” campaign.

HeadCount describes itself as “a nonpartisan organization that works with musicians to promote participation in democracy.” The group was founded in 2004 by the Disco Biscuits’ Marc Brownstein and Andy Bernstein, author of the Phish fan guide “The Pharmer’s Almanac.”

Fans can pledge to vote in the upcoming election through HeadCount’s website and pick an artist they’d like to get a reminder phone call from.

Along with Brownstein, fans can also choose to receive a message from Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead and Furthur, The Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne, Willie Nelson, My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, Phish’s Jon Fishman, The Roots’ ?uestlove, Warren Haynes of Gov’t Mule and The Allman Brothers Band, Guster’s Adam Gardner, Grace Potter, Brett Dennen, and The National’s Matt Berninger.

Although most fans will receive a pre-recorded message sent via automated phone calls a few lucky voters will receive live calls from the artist participants.

“Let’s get some folks cranked up about this,” said Weir, a HeadCount board member who has promised to personally make dozens of phone calls. “It’s so important that people, particularly young people, are paying attention and voting so a bunch of cranky old folks don’t steal their future. Hopefully getting a call from a familiar voice will be motivation.”

Gardner said he hadn’t realized that voter turnout for midterm elections is so much smaller compared with presidential elections.

“I was surprised by it and definitely motivated to changed those stats,” said the guitarist and founder of the environmental music-industry nonprofit organization Reverb.
   
Click here for HeadCount’s website to pledge to vote and choose which artist you’d like to get a reminder call from.