How It Works
Seattle arts organizations (specifically, any group that supports or promotes literary arts in Seattle) nominate one candidate in the spring. The nominees are then confirmed and listed on this site, along with bios, nominator profiles, and of course poetry.
Public Voices
The public registers their opinions in online voting for two months. Nominated candidates get to read at events organized by the program.
The top four vote-getters are announced in late summer, in advance of a reading at Bumbershoot: Seattle's Music & Arts Festival (in 2007). At this "inauguration," the winner will be announced and current Poet Populist Jourdan Imani Keith will relinquish her laurels to a deserving successor.
The new Poet Populist will receive $500 and a mandate to write one piece on the occasion, and read at selected venues throughout the year. Seattle’s Poet Populist has been invited to read at bookstores, colleges, businesses and at opening ceremonies for new public and private developments.
Voting Rules
- Voting happens exclusively online at www.poetpopulist.org.
- Voting is open only to Seattle residents.
- One vote per person is allowed.
- Tabulation includes verification and filtering to ensure a sound election.
- The Program's tabulation will be final and not subject to any appeals. The Program reserves the right to terminate candiates at our own discretion.