On the Ballot: COURIER Live · America in Conversation
Everything on the ballot. Everyone in the room.Eight cities. Six weeks. One question on the table — who gets to decide what happens next?
This fall, COURIER takes its newsroom on the road — to the battleground states that will decide control of the Senate, the House, and governorships across the country. Every stop pairs a Get Out The Vote activation with a live candidate forum: real, unscripted conversation between the people running and the people they’d represent. Free to attend. Livestreamed everywhere.
Not a panel. Not a rally.
A conversation.
Traditional candidate events talk at you. Ours are built for the room. Each forum is moderated by a nationally recognized voice, seats roughly 300 people in person, is livestreamed nationally, and covers topics submitted by the audience and our editorial teams — students, organizers, neighbors, and first-time voters included. Before the doors open for the forum, we throw a party with a purpose: live music, free food, creators, and one ask — register, make a plan, and vote.
Get Out The Vote
A 90-minute activation built for students and younger voters, powered by COURIER's local newsrooms and organizing partners.
Candidate Forum
An evening town hall with the candidates on your ballot — House, Senate, and gubernatorial races, moderated for real answers.
Livestreamed Nationally
Every forum streams across the COURIER network — national and local — so the conversation reaches well beyond the room.
Voices who ask the questions that matter
Each forum is hosted by a nationally recognized moderator — journalists and progressive leaders who know how to keep a conversation honest and keep it moving.
Don Lemon
Journalist & host
Confirmed · 3 stops
More coming to your city
Moderator announcements coming soon. Sign up to be the first to know.
Where We're Going
The calendar follows the voting calendar. September stops land ahead of registration deadlines. October stops land inside early-voting windows. Wherever you are, the ask is the same: show up, and bring someone with you.
Candidate participation is confirmed on a rolling basis. Check back – lineups update as they lock.
One night. Two key events.
Get Out The Vote Block Party
Live music and a local DJ. Free food and swag. Digital creators, local orgs, and a host you'll love. Limited programming, one call to action: register or make your plan to vote through COURIER's voter hub. Open to everyone — students, community members, and anyone who wants to stick around for the forum.
The Candidate Forum
The candidates on your ballot, a moderator who won't let them off easy, and 300 people who come wanting to learn more. Audience-submitted questions are built into the topics format. It's livestreamed across the COURIER network and partner channels so the conversation reaches well beyond the room.
All events are free. Registration is required for the forum. Venues are near major college campuses and accessible by transit where possible.
Can't make it?
Pull up a chair.
Every candidate forum streams live across the COURIER network — national and local — and on partner channels. Set a reminder, share the link, and watch with the people you’re trying to convince to engage.
Past COURIER National events in this format have drawn 20k+ live viewers and 400k+ social clip views. Q2’s NY-12 debate alone reached more than 1.3 million post-event views.
This is a we thing.
Attend
Grab a free ticket
Bring your roommate, bring your parents. Show up early for the activation and show your voter registration to gain access to the Block Party — and stay for the forum.
Sponsor
Put your org in the room
In front of a national audience, at the moment it counts. Tiered underwriting and sponsorship packages available for single stops or the full series.
Partner
Help us fill the room
Campus organizations, local organizers, creators, and civic groups: help us fill the room and turn the energy into registrations.
Yes. Every stop – activation and forum – is free to attend. Forum seating is limited, so register early.
Anyone. Events are designed for students and younger voters, and everyone in the community is welcome.
Lineups are announced on a rolling basis as candidates confirm. Check each stop's page and follow COURIER for updates.
Yes. Audience-submitted questions are part of every forum. You'll be able to submit when you register and our editorial teams will pre-determine the topics in mind with your questions woven in.
We prioritize accessible venues at every stop. Contact us with specific needs and we'll do what we can to accommodate.
The activation is built around student mobilization, so it's an alcohol-free (or alcohol-minimal) event. Free food and drinks are on us.
We'd love to hear from you. Use the "Bring Us to Your Campus" form – even if we can't add a stop this fall, we're already building toward 2028.
Send an email or request the deck. We'll get back to you within three business days.