theCut and Shape Up The Vote are bringing voter registration kits to barbershops

If you’ve ever walked into a barbershop, you’ve most likely become part of a candid conversation or debate on an array of topics — and one of those might even be voting.

In general, barbers come across a lot of people in a day. So to make sure they are informed about the upcoming election, this local startup is stepping up to share some important information.

D.C.-based theCut, curator of a technology platform for the barbershop experience, is partnering with nonpartisan initiative Shape Up The Vote to provide free voter registration kits to barbers using its app. Through this partnership, barbers are able to disperse voter registration and election materials to their clients ahead of Nov. 3. They will also have posters and mirror clings to give clients reminders about voting soon.

This voter registration partnership came after Joe Biden and Kamala Harris ran campaign advertisements in barbershops as part of their $280 million television and digital ad campaign targeting Black voters in battleground states.

Though online and mail-in voter registration ended on Oct. 13, D.C. offers same-day voter registration in person at any of its early voting centers and on Election Day. Check out this D.C. voter registration FAQs sheet for more information.

High school best friends Obi Omile Jr. and Kush Patel cofounded theCut four years ago to connect barbers with their clients through a mobile app. Barbers can create a profile through the app that displays information about where they’re based, what services they offer and more. Clients can book a sessions with their preferred barber, and pay through the app as well. The minority-owned company’s platform is free for barbers and clients to use.

(Check out this guest post authored by Omile on ways founders can stretch their funding.)

theCut has a network of more than 65,000 barbers and 1.8 million consumers using its platform, and over 15 million appointments have been booked through the company’s app nationwide, it said. Business on the theCut’s platform has increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic hit with more than 30,000 new consumers using its app weekly.