Walk Cycle to the Polls
An expanded interdisciplinary initiative bridging animation, computer science, and non-partisan democratic participation.
Overview
Walk Cycle to the Polls (WCTTP) transforms the traditional, abstract concepts of civic duty into a shared, physical, and digital celebration. By guiding participants through the collaborative process of creating custom 8-frame character animations, the initiative explores the deep historical relationship between expressive art and political mobilization.
The pedagogical foundation of the project first invites participants to reflect critically on the politics of movement, connecting the historical lineage of voting rights marches to the formal mechanics of an animation walk cycle. In an era where civic engagement can feel polarized or distant, WCTTP turns voting into an inclusive, joyful community gathering powered by self-expression.
Students and community members don't just watch an exhibition — they animate their own characters, submit them to an interactive database, and race their avatars to a virtual polling booth before casting their real-world ballots at early voting locations.
From Classroom to Community
Where It Started
32 students in the "Introduction to Animation" (ARTDES 243) curriculum at the Stamps School of Art & Design designed custom walk cycles. These hand-drawn characters were integrated into a controller-based 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.
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
- A fully accessible game engine with audio description, visual indicators, and multi-language support
Project Timeline
Jun – Aug
Coordination & Development
EECS student developers rebuild the 2024 game engine under Austin Yarger's mentorship. This public-facing website is built. The student marketing team mobilizes in August to design social content campaigns.
September
Launch & 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.
October
Residency & Keynote Showcases
October 28: Legendary animator James Baxter leads a character design and walk cycle master class for Stamps animation students. October 29: Baxter delivers the Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Lecture at the Michigan Theatre. A live mini-tournament showcases student animations to the public.
Late Oct–Nov
General Tournaments & Midterms
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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