Send the Vote is a voter registration and turnout program aimed at young male voters launched in 2024 by supporters of then-former President Donald Trump. 1 The pro-Trump political action committee Secure American Greatness gave $10.4 million to Send the Vote. 2 The Nelk Boys, a YouTube prank-video group who also host the Full Send podcast, launched the project. 3
Background
Send the Vote is a voter registration and turnout program aimed at young male voters. It was launched in 2024 by supporters of then-former President Donald Trump’s election campaign. 1 Send the Vote launched in the summer of 2024 with plans to raise and spend $20 million on voter registration. 4 1
The political action committee Secure American Greatness gave $10.4 million to Send the Vote. 2 Send the Vote focused on registration in Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Nevada. 5
Send the Vote advocates for voter registration and get-out-the-vote activities through direct engagement with Americans eligible to vote. The group engages in digital, direct mail, and public communication campaigns to boost voter registration and enhance participation in elections. 6
Send the Vote had sponsorship from the Full Send podcast, which is popular with young men; comedian Theo Von; and internet personality Hailey Welch, known as the “Hawk Tuah Girl.” 7
Founding
The Nelk Boys, prank-channel YouTube personalities who also host the Full Send podcast, mounted a voter registration drive aimed at young men during the 2024 election cycle that was eventually called “Send the Vote.” 3 5
The Nelk Boys met President Donald Trump in 2020 when UFC executive Dana White arranged for them to ride on Air Force One. In March 2022, then-former President Trump did an interview with the Full Send podcast. 3
The Send the Vote project debuted on the Full Send podcast in summer 2024 with an interview with then-U.S. Sen. JD Vance (R-OH), Trump’s selection as the Republican vice-presidential candidate. 1
After launching, lead host Kyle Forgeard told the audience, “Making a post on Instagram or making a tweet, that’s cool. But every single one of you guys needs to register to vote and you need to make your voice heard. Don’t be f—ing lazy, get your ballot in the mail, do whatever you got to do, plan around it.” 5
When the Full Send podcast interviewed Trump in 2024, Forgeard encouraged the audience to register to vote through SendTheVote.com. He told the audience to “get up off your f—— a— and actually vote.” The host said the initiative “mak[es] sure your vote is actually counted.” 7
Events
Send the Vote held events where the admission to enter was proof of voter registration, including Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fights. Events were planned in Philadelphia, Detroit, Atlanta, New York City, Los Angeles, and Scottsdale, Arizona. 5
The Nelk Boys planned a “Send the Vote” music festival with rapper Waka Flocka Flame, and voter-registration events at Penn State football games. 3
The podcasters also promoted voter registration on dating apps and ran commercials on podcasts, such as Kill Tony, MrBallen, and BS w/ Jake Paul, that are popular with young male audiences. 3
Send the Vote established a partnership with Old Row merchandise, an organization that is a subsidiary of the Barstool Sports sports-media and gaming network. Under the partnership, buyers of Old Row merch received flyers from Send the Vote informing them on how to vote. 3
Leadership
John Shahidi is the president of Full Send and the co-founder of Send the Vote. 3
Taylor Budowich is the co-founder of Send the Vote. 3 He was also named the president of the board of directors. 2 He manages MAGA Inc., the primary super political action committee that supported Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign. 7
David Lee was the group’s interim executive director. 9
References
- Leary, Alex. “Trump Allies Launch $20 Million Effort to Reach Young Men.” Wall Street Journal. August 1, 2024. Accessed March 20, 2026. https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/trump-allies-launch-20-million-effort-to-reach-young-men-e65aeb31
- “Send the Vote Inc.” ProPublica. Accessed March 20, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/993066199
- Isenstadt, Alex. “Inside Trump’s push to win over the ‘bro’ vote.” Politico. October 9, 2024. Accessed March 20, 2026. https://www.politico.com/news/2024/10/09/trump-bro-vote-hawk-tuah-girl-00183129
- Berkowitz, Joe. “Pro-Trump influencer are spending $20 million to court UFC bros for youth vote.” Fast Company. August 1, 2024. Accessed March 20, 2026. https://www.fastcompany.com/91166598/pro-trump-pac-send-the-vote-features-nelk-boys-ufc-fighters-for-youth-vote
- Barron, Sam. “Trump Allies Target Young Men in New Campaign.” Newsmax. August 1, 2024. Accessed March 20, 2026. https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/donald-trump-ufc-nelk-boys/2024/08/01/id/1174888/
- “Send the Vote.” Cause IQ. Accessed March 20, 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/send-the-vote,993066199/
- George, Nathan. “Just Vote Bro: Trump’s Last Shot at Winning the Election.” The Harvard Political Review. November 5, 2024. Accessed March 20, 2026. https://theharvardpoliticalreview.com/trump-campaign-young-male-voters-social-media/
- “Send the Vote Inc.” ProPublica. Accessed March 20, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/993066199 [/note
Charles Gantt is the treasurer/secretary of the board. 8 “Send the Vote Inc.” ProPublica. Accessed March 20, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/993066199