Why you might see musicians performing at your polling place

• The group is nonpartisan and says it welcomes musicians from all genres.

Zoom in: Founder and cellist Mike Block will perform with members of the multicultural Silkroad Ensemble outside the Loop Supersite on Tuesday.

Backstory: Block started Play for the Vote in 2020 after feeling the tension following a presidential debate. As he practiced his instrument, relaxation cut through the stress he was feeling.

• "I just thought to myself, 'If music is making me feel better, maybe I'll go to my polling location and play for my neighbors on Election Day, and it'll help them feel better. And then five minutes later, I thought, 'What if everybody I know went to a polling location to play music?'" Block said in an interview with CelloBello, an online cello resource center.

State of play: Four years ago, 1,500 musicians performed at 700 polling locations nationwide, the group says. This year, they're seeking 5,000 artists at 2,200 polling places.

What they're saying: "It's all about giving — giving the energy to the people and essentially not needing to ask for anything in return," Block said.

How it works: You can sign up to perform at a Chicago polling place at Play for the Vote's website.