Alright, bitches, quick show of hands. How many of you have at one time or another been influenced to vote by someone famous? I’m not saying that they necessarily helped you form an opinion, but at the very least, you realized your views aligned with theirs, and that contributed to your enthusiasm in a political campaign. Harvard’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation did a study recently to find out whether or not people really are motivated to vote when celebs like Kid Rock (lol) and Taylor Swift voice their support for candidates. And the data shows that yes, celebrities absolutely do influence people to vote. The study was nonpartisan and focused mainly on celebrities’ effect on civic engagement in efforts like getting Americans to register to vote, as well as getting out the vote.
“While some polling shows that people claim they aren’t influenced by celebrity voices when it comes to politics, more rigorous evidence indicates that these voices are incredibly powerful,” according to the Harvard study. When celebrities promote calls to action, the study found that nonprofits report higher rates of online voter registration and poll worker sign-ups.
“Celebrities are uniquely positioned to empower everyday Americans to use their voices and exercise their civic rights,” the report states. “Celebrities are an unparalleled force in American culture, informing what we buy, what we wear, and what we talk about. With their significant influence and reach, they are powerful advocates for social and political causes.”
That’s a message that could prove critical in turning out first-time or younger voters, who “face barriers to their participation, largely due to a dearth of easily available information about the basic mechanics of casting a ballot in their state,” the study found.
“Celebrities have a unique ability to connect with younger generations in ways that mainstream media and other get-out-the-vote efforts may not be able to,” the study states. “Their control of and presence on social media positions them as centralized sources of information to be tapped into and utilized by those looking to increase voter participation.”
This campaign season has exploded across social media, with younger voters sharing cat memes (a nod to Trump’s running mate, JD Vance) and coconut tree emojis (a calling card for Harris supporters). British pop star Charli XCX boosted Harris’ Gen Z appeal with one single tweet that read, “Kamala Is Brat.” Trump sat down earlier this week with 23-year-old online streamer, Adin Ross, for an interview on the social platform, Kick, after his teenage son, Barron Trump, said he was a fan of the influencer.
Harvard’s researchers noted the power of social media, but also explored celebrity campaigns across mediums, including television, documentaries, merchandising and public service announcements. They looked at data from celebrity initiatives in the 2018, 2020 and 2022 election cycles, including efforts by Kerry Washington, Billie Eilish, Hailey Bieber, Trevor Noah, David Dobrik, Questlove and Taylor Swift.
For instance, in 2018, when Swift shared a post on Instagram to encourage her then-112 million followers to register to vote at www.vote.org, the organization saw its largest day of new voter registration in history, according to the report.
Other efforts researched include one by Ariana Grande, who promoted voter registration in 2019 by setting up booths at her concerts during her “Sweetener” world tour, and Kylie Jenner, who in 2020 posted on Instagram a link to register to vote, which resulted in a 1,500% increase in traffic compared to the day prior. One of the report’s case studies revolves around Eilish, the Grammy-winning singer, who has been outspoken about voting with her young fanbase. In 2020, Eilish recruited poll workers for the organization, Power the Polls, and measured her impact with a unique URL that was shared with her followers.
Former “Daily Show” host Trevor Noah also worked with the same non-profit by making calls to action on his nightly show, which recruited more than 35,000 poll workers in 2020, according to Harvard. YouTuber David Dobrik, who is known for car giveaways and has tens of millions of followers across social media platforms, teamed with the non-profit Headcount to gift five Teslas to those registered to vote. Per Harvard’s study, nearly half a million raffle entrants, 75% were millennial or Gen Z, and more than 65% actually went on to vote.
It’s not surprising, but I find this all fascinating. I would love to hear everyone else’s experiences in political awakening. I grew up in a Republican family, where there was constant exasperation about how celebrities should “stick to acting” and what not. This, of course, completely ignores the fact that Republicans’ two favorite presidents happen to be a movie actor who completely changed the US for the worse simply because he was a greedy racist who hated paying taxes (Reagan) and a racist nepo baby reality TV star con artist, who…duh.
I always knew who I was going to vote for because my very-engaged parents taught me to vote for someone who shared my values. It wasn’t until the 2020 election that I really “got” the celebrity influence factor. For me, that moment was this really great ad using Taylor Swift’s “Only the Young.” I’d never seen the Miss Americana documentary, but the whole ad made me emotional because it brought together so many different voices. Even now, I’ve been totally taken in with the whole “brat” thing, and I don’t even get what it means! I think that very early-on Tweet helped kickstart enthusiasm for VP Harris. I take our civic duty to vote seriously. The more people who legally participate in the democratic process, the stronger the system is.
This is the ad from 2020 I mentioned. It was from Rep. Eric Swalwell and makes me teary every time I rewatch it, like I did just now. TW because it features a lot of what we went through in 2020.
kamala IS brat
— Charli (@charli_xcx) July 22, 2024
Olivia Rodrigo endorses Kamala Harris via Instagram. pic.twitter.com/0QqvRWNhAy
— Pop Base (@PopBase) July 24, 2024
In the name of democracy, @JoeBiden did a brave and bold thing. I’m tremendously grateful for his years of service – and I am awed by his selfless leadership.
Make no mistake. Our fight now remains EXACTLY the same. We must do everything we can to prevent another Trump… pic.twitter.com/HODoi7s28P
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) July 21, 2024
photos credit: JW / Bang Showbiz / Avalon, Trae Patton / @ A.M.P.A.S / Avalon, Mike Gray / Avalon
Absolutely celebrities can help get out the vote. I’m really grateful that Beyonce is letting VP Harris use Freedom. I’m pretty sure that music’s most famous cat lady is also going to throw her support behind the VP.
For the other side, Adin Ross (who remember, visited Andrew Tate in prison), was “dancing” with Trump in a clear bid to get the incel vote out.
I can’t say they’ve influenced me to vote, mostly because I was raised by a single mom who was very politically minded, so I’ve been very into politics and voting Democrat my whole life (I pulled the lever for my mom’s vote for Clinton in 96 lol).
but it does make me like celebrities more when I find out they are aligned with my beliefs, I can’t lie
@Arizona, your upbringing sounds exactly like mine!
So get on that, taylor. We’re waiting.
I am sure she will but she is currently dealing with the fall out of an attempted terrorist attack so she might be being extra careful while performing, you know to avoid risking the lives of a few 100k people.
What’s that got to do with making an endorsement which will preserve and restore reproductive rights for women and potentially save countless lives?
You do you, swiftie.
A lot, and you know it. I mean this was a political attack, she is getting updates from counter terrorist operatives she will speak when they say it’s safe.
I don’t know how these things are related. Do explain in your swiftie logic.
And what ever happened to strapping on a set? These times call for balls now more than ever.
Remember what your girl did the last election cycle? Yeah, neither do I.
In my senior year in high school (class of 1990- yeah, i’m 52), our government teacher, Paul Levy brought people in class one day to register us all to vote. I was able to cast my first presidential vote (absentee ballot, from college) for Bill Clinton.
Bonus facts about Paul Levy:
1) He was a great, grumpy, old man of a teacher;
2) He was funny, but would also yell at you if you were staring at your split ends during a test (yes, he was yelling at me);
3) We had temporary classrooms (trailers), and as the senior prank one year, the seniors painted his temp pink with purple polka dots- he told the school not to change it back- so pink and purple it stayed;
4) At the end of the year, he rolled in the tv on the cart that all schools had then, and showed us the first couple of episodes of the UK show The Prisoner
5) His first vote had been for Richard Nixon- and he never voted again
Having a GREAT teacher, is something you remember forever.
There’s also GOP run states that are purging voters from the rolls- wouldn’t hurt to check your status once a month in the run up to the election. This can even be done online, even in a backwards -idiot, gop run state like mine.
Awww, I love a good grumpy old teacher story! Please everyone check your voter registration frequently. I find Vote.org so easy, you pick your state and check your status. I am in TX so I am doing it daily.
@ariel – I’m confused by Paul Levy #5: first vote for Nixon, and never voted again. If M. Levy was such a great government teacher, getting high school students registered to vote – why did he never vote again? Also, not that it matters much, but was that Nixon 1960, 1968 or 1972?
I’ve voted since 1972, the first year after I turned 18, the same year the 26th Amendment was passed. Celebrities GOTV efforts are nice.
Not me, but I grew up before social media etc.
I did vote since I was 18.
However, I am always happy to see celebrities encouraging people to vote.
Taylor Swift’s Ms. Americana documentary reveals the pressure she was under to remain non partisan and how this negatively affected her. Her song and her speech criticizing a Republican TN senator after were great steps. Glad to hear that song was in ad play.
On Sunday’s “Win with Black Women” call, the Switfies will organize a call on August 27th. I don’t know the time or details, so if anyone is interested, be on the lookout. I mentioned it in one of the posts last week; however, it is official.
Mine was the classic FU to my dad, who even as a public school administrator voted for Reagan *twice*. 🤦♀️ We went after each other hammer and tongs for years. But to his (partial) credit, once my brother came out as gay in the 90s, he never voted Republican again. For some, it really has to touch their family directly to get the message through. So celebrity didn’t activate me, but it does lead my choices around which products I consume. (Looking at you, Brad Pitt and George Clooney.)
That video makes me tear up every time. We must defeat this monster and everything he stands for in November.
I think it is great when a celebrity speaks up because it is their right to do so and if it helps great, but personally it has never impacted me.
When I was 4 my mom took me with her to vote and she was really hoping the person she was voting for won, not because she liked him so much she hated Regan (aged myself) and I vividly remember the lines, the workers and what it was like in the booth and couldn’t wait to get to do it. My mom also never missed an election, i mean it could be a random city ordinance election and she’d go, and if I didn’t have school when I was super young I went with her so I have always wanted to vote and known how important it was. So my mom instilled that in me, what celebrities thought never mattered because I knew it was my right and duty because of my mom.
I’ve always voted, and wouldn’t be swayed by a celebrity’s endorsement, but I greatly appreciate those who encourage registration and voting, especially with young people.
My parents were staunch Democrats so that is what I am. I always vote a pretty straight ticket. It was exciting when a celebrity was on the same page as myself but I don’t think they influenced me because I was going to vote that way to begin with.
my parents raised my brother and I to read/watch the news and pay attention to politics from a pretty early age. My brother & I worked as volunteers on campaigns starting when I was in junior high (my parents would drive us and drop us off, they didn’t usually volunteer themselves but they did support us volunteering) so I’d say my parents did a pretty good job of making sure we were high information voters. We’d, routinely, discuss politics and social issues at the table. My dad was registered Republican and my mom Democrat. Reagan was the straw that pushed my dad away from the GOP – he stayed registered Republican and my brother registered Republican because we were in PA which is a closed primary state. My mom & I registered Democrat so, as a family, we’d have 2 votes in each primary.
Celebrities have never impacted whether or how I vote. When it comes to celebrities endorsing or supporting candidates, it doesn’t impact my view of the candidate but which candidates a celebrity supports does impact my opinion of the celebrity.
My favorite political ad of all time remains Madonna’s “You better vote or you’re gonna get a spanky” from MTV’s Rock The Vote campaign.