Walk Cycle to the Polls
An interdisciplinary initiative bridging animation, game development, and non-partisan democratic participation.
Overview
Walk Cycle to the Polls (WCTTP) transforms the abstract concept of civic duty into a shared physical and digital celebration. By gamifying the civic process, the initiative creates a playful, participatory gesture designed to make voting more accessible, welcoming, and communal for multiple generations. Through the collaborative creation of custom character animations, WCTTP connects creative self-expression directly to democratic action.
The project draws inspiration from those who have walked in pursuit of an equal voice in the democratic process. By connecting the legacy of voting rights marches to the creative mechanics of an animation walk cycle, WCTTP celebrates voting as an inclusive, joyful, and passionate pursuit rather than a distant or polarized chore.
Participation goes far beyond the animators themselves: fandom is a core engine of the experience. Whether community members animate their own characters, race their avatars to a virtual polling booth, or simply come out to the video game tournaments to cheer on their favorite racers, everyone is invited to join the crowd before casting their real-world ballots at early voting locations.
From Classroom to Community
Where It Started
Inspired by U-M's rich ecosystem of voter engagement — exemplified by student-led "Walk to the Polls" drives and the Stamps School's Creative Campus Voting Project — Walk Cycle to the Polls launched its first iteration. 32 students in Avery Lawrence's "Introduction to Animation" (ARTDES 243) courses at the Stamps School of Art & Design designed custom walk cycles. These hand-drawn characters were integrated into a racing game developed by EECS student designers Jacob Robinson and SC Klein.
During early voting, the project staged a bracket-style tournament in the Duderstadt Center, adjacent to the North Campus voting station. The installation successfully mobilized 36 student participants into an art-to-voting pipeline, drawing cheering crowds and turning the act of voting into a celebratory public performance.
2024 Participating Students: Asia Adams, Ruben Barrett, Olivia Glynn, Ainsley Harju, Jane Hoppe, Desi Hudson, Hilary Kohtz, Xandria Mainor, Tyler Mick, Zane Mohammad, Shafiq Muqit, Bailey Newsome, Michelle Peng, Damien Richardson, Psy Ryu, Veronica Weinberg, Sophia Williamson, Breanna Zaborowski, Casey Zhang, Grace Biebel, Briar Black, Marshall Alex Coe, Akari Fu, Elisa Gasser, Roe Halbert, Shelby Hernandez-Olguin, Brooke Kelley, Leila Kerr, Ivan Moreno, Alex Nguyen, Jalen Nieto, Rachel Plagens, Keegan Roberts, Oliver St. Cyr, Nala White, Annelie Zissis
What's Coming
For the 2026 midterm elections and the Semiquincentennial year, WCTTP expands into a university-wide and community-facing initiative:
- Public animation workshops on campus and at the Ann Arbor District Library
- A high-profile partnership with the Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series featuring animator James Baxter at the historic Michigan Theatre
- Live mini-tournaments at public events and early voting sites
Project Events
Community Workshops
September 14–18 (Democracy Week): Launch of public walk cycle workshops and voter registration events. September 15 (National Voter Registration Day): Inaugural public walk cycle tutorial and voter registration drive at the Downtown Branch of the Ann Arbor District Library. Academic integration begins in ARTDES 243.
Master Classes, Video Game Tournaments & a Lecture
October 28: Legendary animator James Baxter leads character design and walk cycle master classes for animation students at the Stamps School of Art & Design. October 29: Baxter delivers the Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Lecture at the Michigan Theatre. A live mini-tournament showcases student animations to the public.
Throughout the early voting period: Full-scale interactive game installations at the UMMA early voting site and the North Campus early voting site. Community members race their custom avatars to the virtual polls before casting physical ballots.
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