Stand Up for Science to host virtual No Kings rally on voting access

Stand Up for Science will host a free, accessible virtual “No Kings” rally on Oct. 17 to encourage voting ahead of Election Day on Nov. 3. The event will feature Stacey Abrams, Rep. Adelita Grijalva and live Spanish interpretation, along with other accessibility tools for remote and disabled participants.

Why it matters: - The rally is designed to remove barriers that can keep eligible voters from participating because of disability, distance, language or caregiving responsibilities. - The event aims to help people make voting plans ahead of Election Day on Nov. 3, while early voting is already underway in many states. - The format also gives Americans living abroad a way to connect with voting resources and direct technical help.

What happened: - Stand Up for Science will host the official virtual and accessible “No Kings” rally on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. ET. - The event is free, online and open to anyone, regardless of ability, language, location or situation. - The rally is part of the national “No Kings” day of action. - The speaker lineup includes Stacey Abrams, Rep. Adelita Grijalva of Arizona’s 7th District, author Michael Lewis, political analyst Simon Rosenberg, Martha McDevitt-Pugh of Voto desde el extranjero, disability rights advocates Theo W. Braddy and Rhoda Gibson Malden, and Colette Delawalla, founder and CEO of Stand Up for Science.

The details: - Live Spanish interpretation and American Sign Language interpretation will be available. - The event will also include live captions in English and automatic captions in multiple languages. - After the speaking program, participants will join breakout sessions and voter-engagement activities. - Attendees will be able to help other voters build a voting plan. - One session will connect Americans voting from abroad with resources and direct technical assistance on the voting process. - Members of the press are invited to attend. - Registration is available through the event announcement linked in the source.

Between the lines: - The rally extends a political message into an access-first format, signaling that turnout efforts now increasingly depend on removing practical obstacles, not just persuading voters. - Stand Up for Science is pairing democracy messaging with science and health access, reflecting a broader coalition strategy around civic participation. - The emphasis on multilingual and disability access suggests the group is targeting voters who are often left out of traditional in-person political events.

What's next: - Stand Up for Science said Colette Delawalla is available for media comments and appearances. - The organization will use the rally’s breakout sessions to push attendees toward concrete voting plans and participation tools. - The event could serve as a turnout mechanism ahead of the Nov. 3 election and a model for future virtual civic mobilization.

The bottom line: - Stand Up for Science is trying to turn a protest-style rally into a voting-access event that can reach people who cannot show up in person.