For the first time in its nearly 100-year history, TIME Magazine has replaced the TIME logo on the cover of the magazine with the word VOTE. And it features some fabulous artwork by Shepard Fairey, the artist who created the iconic Obama “Hope” poster.
This is how time.com/… describes the new cover -
Few events will shape the world to come more than the result of the upcoming U.S. presidential election. As Americans decide if it’s time to reach for a reset button of our own, this issue includes a special report on the closing days of the 2020 campaign. “On Nov. 3 (or, hopefully, soon after), we will finally get an answer to the question of what these past four discombobulating years have meant,” writes TIME’s national political correspondent Molly Ball. “It is a decision not about what policy proposals to pursue but about what reality we collectively decide to inhabit.”
To mark this historic moment, arguably as consequential a decision as any of us has ever made at the ballot box, we have for the first time in our nearly 100-year history replaced our logo on the cover of our U.S. edition with the imperative for all of us to exercise the right to vote. To help, we’ve provided readers with a guide on how to vote safely during this extraordinary year. The artwork on the cover is by Shepard Fairey, whose work includes two prior TIME covers. “Even though the subject in the portrait knows there are additional challenges to democracy during a pandemic,” Fairey says of the image, the person is determined to use their “voice and power by voting.”
We stand at a rare moment, one that will separate history into before and after for generations.
The article at the link below has a good voter’s guide.
It starts off as follows — “With COVID-19 cases spiking, the President of the United States tweeting false information about voting, and tens of millions of us casting ballots by mail for the first time, it’s already turning out to be a wild and woolly election season” and goes on to address questions such as -
- Is it better to vote early, or on Election Day?
- Can I vote if my voter registration is “inactive”?
- What should I do if someone tries to stop me from voting?
- Should I use a dropbox instead of mailing my ballot?
- How do I know if my mail ballot arrived and was counted?
- Will I be notified if my mail-in ballot is rejected? If so, can I fix it?
- Why is my ballot so confusing?
- What if I planned to vote in person but get sick on Nov. 3?
- If I opted to get a mail ballot, can I vote in-person instead?
- What if something goes awry at my polling place?
- What time should I vote to avoid the longest lines?
- Can someone else drop off my ballot for me?
- What health precautions should I take to vote in-person?
- What if one candidate claims victory before all of the results are in?
- Should I be concerned if there’s no clear winner on election night?
Shepard Fairey in his own words -
Shepard Fairey writes at obeygiant.com/…
I’m honored to have created my third cover for Time magazine, especially since this issue focuses on the civic duty of voting. The art I created for the Time cover addresses the very unique situation we are in as a country as we face the Covid-19 pandemic, unrest around police brutality and racial discrimination, voter suppression, and intense political division.
In this illustration, the normally clear-cut rebel symbol of a bandana covering a face takes on a different meaning during Covid, becoming an emblem of safety, respect for one’s fellow citizens, and a sign that the wearer believes in science. The image on the bandana, including the ballot box speaker, is part of a piece of art I created called “Our Hands – Our Future.”
Even though the subject in the portrait knows there are additional challenges to democracy during a pandemic, she is determined to use her voice and power by voting. The future is not shaped by voting alone, but voting is crucial to make a healthy, functional democracy.
In my opinion, those who claim to believe in democracy and ask for the honor to represent the people should be looking for ways to make voting easier, not more difficult. I’d like to see the implementation of an election holiday as well as secure electronic voting options. Until then, mail in your ballot or mask-up and head to the polls… the future of our democracy is in your hands!
Here is the Obama “Hope” poster and a good article about the new TIME cover.
Other famous artwork by Shepard —
Check out his other works of art at his website at obeygiant.com/… His giant murals make social and political statements on the walls and buildings of many American cities.
It’s heartening to see so much support and positive energy for elections, Democracy and for Democrats in general. Let’s do all we can, in this final week before November 3, to encourage and help others to exercise their privilege and their duty to vote. The future of the world depends on it.