EP04: Why Registering to Vote Still Matters

HeadCount is turning concerts into launchpads for civic action by making voter registration as common as buying a band tee. In this episode, Topher Williams chats with Lucille Wenegieme, the Executive Director at HeadCount, about how music, culture, and civic engagement all show up in the same place, and why that matters more than ever. Lucille shares how her Nigerian-American upbringing shaped her approach to community, and how that early sense of mutual aid evolved into a nationwide movement that registered nearly 500,000 voters in 2024.

They unpack why traditional “just vote” messaging misses the mark with Gen Z and Gen Alpha, and how Headcount is closing that gap by meeting people where they already are: at concerts, festivals, and online. With partnerships ranging from Sabrina Carpenter and Green Day to Spotify, HeadCount creates experiences that feel fun and real, not forced or transactional.

Lucille also lays out the structural challenges young voters face and makes a strong case for voting systems built around access, not red tape. The results speak for themselves: a 78% turnout rate among Headcount participants and over 3.3 million civic actions in a single cycle.

The episode wraps with Lucille’s hot takes on fashion, playlists, and why a crisp white button-down might be the secret to a good day. It’s a reminder that the people leading these efforts aren’t just policy wonks or campaign strategists. They’re also music lovers, community builders, and maybe even someone you’d want to swap outfits with. Curious what it takes to make civic engagement feel like a movement instead of a lecture? This one’s worth a listen!

 

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Meet Lucille Wenegieme: Where Music, Voter Registration, and Elections Intersect

03:33 How Community Roots Shaped a Career in Civic Action

05:03 What Actually Motivates Young Voters Today

09:04 Why the Voting System Needs to Catch Up

16:04 Inside HeadCount: Turning Concerts into Civic Hubs

21:13 Authenticity, Culture, and the Future of Engagement

27:49 Fashion, Playlists, and Lucille’s Civic Style

 

Connect with Lucille Wenegieme:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucillewenegieme/

https://www.headcount.org/

https://www.facebook.com/HeadCountOrg/

https://www.instagram.com/headcountorg/

https://www.tiktok.com/@headcountorg 

https://x.com/HeadCountOrg

https://www.threads.com/@headcountorg

https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:youx3yujl2pz7g5ebjd5spjc

https://www.linkedin.com/company/headcount-inc./

 

Connect with Topher Williams:

https://www.participationtrophypod.com/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/topher-williams-1a477264/ 

https://www.instagram.com/tophmcgoph/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm