Pop superstar Taylor Swift urged her fans to register to vote on National Voter Registration Day, resulting in tens of thousands of new voter registrations according to the nonpartisan group Vote.org.
Swift posted on her Instagram Stories on Tuesday, September 20th, which was National Voter Registration Day. She told her 272 million Instagram followers that she wanted them to make sure they are registered to vote in the upcoming elections.
“I’ve been so lucky to see so many of you guys at my US shows recently,” Swift wrote. “I’ve heard you raise your voices, and I know how powerful they are. Make sure you’re ready to use them in our elections this year!”
She directed her fans to Vote.org to register in less than 2 minutes. According to Vote.org, there were over 157,000 visits to their site from eligible voters after Swift’s message. This was the organization’s largest National Voter Registration Day since 2020.
Additionally, Vote.org saw a 72% increase in 18-year-old registrations compared to 2019. The number of 18-year-old registrations also jumped 115% compared to 2022. Vote.org’s CEO Andrea Hailey said young people have shown they care about their rights and access to voting.
“During the day on Tuesday we saw a 1226% jump in participation the hour after Taylor Swift posted,” Hailey said. “Our site was averaging 13,000 users every 30 minutes – a number that Taylor Swift would be proud of.”
This successful voter registration drive shows the power and influence Swift holds with her fanbase. She has used that platform effectively in the past to promote civic engagement.
Swift has partnered with Vote.org previously to encourage voter registration and turnout. In 2018, she made an endorsement in a Tennessee U.S. Senate race and saw a spike in voter registrations in the state. More recently, she urged her fans to vote in local Nashville elections in July.
“We have the opportunity to choose those who will represent us for the next four years,” Swift posted on Instagram about the Nashville election.
With the 2022 U.S. midterm elections coming up in November, Swift is once again aiming to engage her fans in the democratic process. Her status as a pop culture icon allows her to reach tens of millions of young potential voters.
Boosting youth voter turnout and registration has been a concern ahead of the midterms. Typically, young voters have much lower turnout rates compared to older age groups. Swift’s high-profile efforts could help reverse that trend.
Civic engagement groups have applauded Swift’s voter registration campaign. HeadCount, a nonpartisan organization that partners with musicians to promote voter participation, said Swift is setting an important example.
“She continues to use her platform to amplify the importance of voting and we are grateful for her positive impact on democracy,” HeadCount said in a statement.
Not everyone is thrilled with celebrities like Swift weighing in on politics. Some argue that celebrities should stay out of politics and stick to entertainment.
However, Swift and her defenders argue that she has the right as an American citizen to speak up about issues that are important to her, regardless of her celebrity status. And she believes passionately in the importance of voting.
“I think that it’s important to voice your opinion,” Swift said in a 2018 interview. “I think that it’s important to stand up for what you believe in.”
With less than 50 days until the November 8th midterm elections, Swift will likely continue using her platform to promote voter registration and turnout.
Given her tremendous reach and influence with young voters, she has the potential to shape the outcome in close races around the country. Both Democrats and Republicans will be watching closely to see if the “Swift effect” on voter engagement is real.
Meanwhile, civic groups like HeadCount will be working right up until Election Day to register and mobilize young voters. Swift’s endorsement of their efforts gives them a high-profile boost.
In an election cycle where youth turnout could determine whether Democrats or Republicans control Congress, Swift is determined to make sure as many of her fans as possible have their voices heard at the ballot box.
