Voter Registration

COML 509 - Week 7 Assignment

The fourth Tuesday of every September is National Voter Registration Day. This nonpartisan civic holiday was first observed in 2012 and since then, there have been more than 5 million voters registered on the holiday (About National Registration Day). National Voter Registration Day seeks to create broad awareness of voter registration opportunities to reach tens of thousands of voters who may not register otherwise. One of the ways they conduct outreach is through technology – including social media.

Voter registration is a very important social cause and social media has been utilized to help provide information and encourage people to get registered. It is also a way for Americans to learn about election protocols including early voting, where to vote, and mail-in ballots – just to name a few. During the 2020 election, it was especially important to encourage voter registration while also educating Americans on any changes to polling protocols during the pandemic.

The utilization of social media can help advance social causes by allowing for a large reach out audience in a short period of it. Social cause organizations can leverage celebrities and influencers to help with the cause, even if there is there no financial motivation, and the impact can be significant. One recent example is Taylor Swift.

Yes, we have all been hearing about her record-breaking Eras Tour and her rumored relationship with Travis Kelce, but on September 19th, National Voter Registration Day 2023, she posted an Instagram story about ensuring our voices are ready to be heard this election with link to register on Vote.org to her 273M followers and the impact was felt. There was an increase of 35,000 voter registrations, and a 1,226% jump in participation within the hour after her post (Sullivan, 2023). This isn’t the first time Taylor Swift has used her platform to encourage her followers to register to vote and also participate in local and federal elections, and I’m sure it will not be her last. Other celebrities have also posted in the past including Kerry Washington, Busy Philips, and Lady Gaga.

The social media platforms have also gotten behind voter registration and voting promotions in recent years. One example is Facebook and Instagram, whose parent company Meta launched Voting Information Center on both platforms in 2020. Not only was the Center accessible from the main menus on the platforms, but they also added features such a “Voting Alerts” to help state and local election authorities reach their constituents and Facts About Voting section (Gleit, 2020).

There are several organizations established focused on voting – not just registration but increasing participation, helping people understand the importance, and changing the culture around voting.

DoSomething.Org

Socials: Facebook 148K followers | X 671.3K followers | Instagram 115K followers | TikTok 8.6K followers | YouTube 12.4K subscribers | Snapchat

Mission: As one of the largest nonprofits exclusively for young people and social change, DoSomething has activated millions of young people in every U.S. area code and 189 countries to take action to improve their communities. Together, DoSomething members participate in our campaigns and programs to take action on causes that impact them and their communities.

They have videos on their website having people share why they vote and resources for Americans to find out more information on voting.

When We All Vote

Socials: Facebook 97K followers | X 127.3K followers | Instagram 404K followers | TikTok 21.2K followers | YouTube 2.89K subscribers | LinkedIn 7.2K followers

Mission: When We All Vote is a leading national, nonpartisan initiative on a mission to change the culture around voting and to increase participation in each and every election by helping to close the race and age gap. When We All Vote brings together individuals, institutions, brands, and organizations to register new voters across the country and advance civic education for the entire family and voters of every age to build an informed and engaged electorate for today and generations to come. We empower our supporters and volunteers to take action through voting, advocating for their rights, and holding their elected officials accountable.

Launched in 2018 by Michelle Obama and is co-chaired by a number of well-known people including Selena Gomez, Tom Hands, Shonda Rhimes, Stephen Curry, and H.E.R.

Rock the Vote

Socials: Facebook 148K followers | X 91.4K followers | Instagram 157K followers | TikTok 21.2K followers | YouTube 3.62K subscribers

Mission: In 1990, music executives founded Rock the Vote in response to the censorship of hip-hop and rap artists. Our first partnership, with MTV, promoted the message that “Censorship is Un-American” and activated millions of young people across the country to exercise their rights and represent their interests. For thirty years, we have continuously adapted to the changing landscapes of media, technology and culture to breakthrough and empower each new generation.

They continue to focus on young voters with their values stating that 44% of American voters in 2024 will be Millennials and Gen Z.

Over time, there have been many concerns voiced about voter registration and voting, in general, including accessibility, voter intimidation, a hostile political climate, and generational shifts. All of these can lead to people not registering to vote in the first place, and those who are registered may be deterred from participating in any election. Organizations like When We All Vote and Rock the Vote can help educate Americans and empower them to participate by leveraging social media platforms, especially with Gen Z and youth voters, who turn to social media for information more than television or newspapers.

Check your registration status here!

References:

About National Voter Registration Day. https://nationalvoterregistrationday.org/about/

Gleit, N. (2020 August 13). Launching Our US 2020 Voting Information Center. Meta. https://about.fb.com/news/2020/08/launching-voting-information-center/

Sullivan, B. (2023 September 22). A Taylor Swift Instagram post helped drive a surge in voter registration. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2023/09/22/1201183160/taylor-swift-instagram-voter-registration