Get Out the Vote!

"Get Out the Vote!" is an internet-original Arthur short produced in advance of Election Day. It features Binky Barnes and Buster Baxter talking about the importance of voting in the election. Since they are not allowed to vote themselves, they ask their parents about their voting plans and encourage them to vote. The short was published to YouTube and the PBS Kids website on October 22, 2020.

Video

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Plot

Binky and Buster video call each other, discussing about Election Day. They created their own presentation for 10 minutes, and Binky reads it out loud to Buster about elections being important, because it's when you can vote and choose any people that run the government. The people running the government are responsible making decisions that matter to everyone, such as the schools, the environment, the beach opening, and trick or treating on Halloween, which is why it's important to vote, but Binky mentions they're not allowed voting because they're kids, he already finishes his presentation because it's how far he got. Buster is unable to present his story because he never even got passed the title. Binky complains what the point is about doing the project if they're unable to vote, Buster is determined that if they're not allowed to vote, what are they allowed doing, Binky tells him that their parents are lucky they get to vote. Buster suddenly never thought about asking his parents about voting before and neither has Binky. They leave the computer and run downstairs quickly to ask their moms and dads, they get back and Buster explains to Binky that his mom hardly ever votes because she's always forgetting, Binky says that his mom voted before but not his dad because he's been working and his car has been getting a flat tire. Buster brings up a good idea about talking to their parents and making plans with them so they'd be able to vote. Binky says he'll help his dad about finding other ways on how to vote so then he won't be able missing work, Binky even takes out the air pump where he explains to Buster checking the wheel pressure everyday, while Buster puts up sticky notes everywhere all around his house reminding his mom to vote like on the fridge and in the bathroom. Binky makes up a song for it saying don't forget to vote, checking the sticky notes, and Buster putting them all over the house. Buster is thinking about walking with his mom to the voting place on Election Day so he can see what it's like to vote, and he mentions not to forget about their aunties, uncles, and grandparents. Binky wonders about Mrs. Higgenbottom wanting a ride to the polls, hoping for his mom taking her there. Buster mentions that even though they can't vote, they can still be part of it, Binky even realizes that they just made up a really good presentation and succeeded it, make a voting plan and be part of it because it's important. Buster laughs and says Mr. Ratburn will love it and he asks Binky curiously if they were recording, Binky mentions that they should do it again and this time to press record, so he presses the record button and do their presentation again just as the video ends.

Characters

• Binky
• Buster
• "the people who run the government" (mentioned)
• Binky's dad (mentioned)
• Binky's mom(mentioned)
• Buster's mom (mentioned)
• "our aunts and uncles and grandparents" (mentioned)
• Mrs. Higgenbottom (mentioned)
• Mr. Ratburn (mentioned)

Trivia

• This is the second internet-only short where Arthur makes no appearance. He was previously absent from Wearing a Mask!
• Buster's calendar shows 30 days in the current month. Halloween is in October, with 31 days, but Election Day in the USA is in November, which has 30 days. It’s also possible that Buster doesn’t keep his calendar up to date.

Episode connections

• Binky and Buster talk about elections and voting, which was a central theme in "The Election" and "Room to Ride."
• Binky mentions Halloween.

External link(s)

• Arthur | Get Out the Vote! | PBS KIDS by PBS Kids
• ARTHUR: Get Out the Vote! by Arthur Read

Transcript

Get Out the Vote/Transcript