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Linda Perry Leads Artists Rallying Millennials To Vote In Midterm Elections
Believe it or not, during the 2016 election, 90 million eligible voters didn't go to the ballots, and only 16 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds voted in the last midterm elections. As the November 6 midterm election approaches this year, artists have been using their social platforms to inspire more people – especially young Americans – to get out and vote.
"I was literally astonished that over 90 million people didn't vote," says GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter/producer Linda Perry.
Perry, a member of the Recording Academy’s L.A. Chapter Board, has her eye on youth and is spearheading a voter campaign encouraging all music creators and fans not only to register and show up on election day, but also to share social media captions mobilizing young voters to get involved. Here are examples of what you can do to spread the word and get our millennials to vote. Please do one or both of the steps below on Oct. 23 at 12 p.m. noon PST:
Step 1
Pick one of the following captions for Twitter or Instagram:
- Doesn't matter what you wear just as long as you are there. #GETUP&VOTE!
- Not voting is equivalent to letting your Grandma decide what to post on your Instagram account. Curate your future! #GETUP&VOTE!
- We don’t choose our parents, so don’t let them choose 4 you. #GETUP&VOTE!
Step 2
Record a short video of yourself reading the caption out loud and post on your socials!
The campaign goes a step further, prompting individuals to record a short video of themselves reading the caption out loud and post on their social platforms. Perry is leading the charge specifically targeted at inspiring youth to get involved and decide their own future.
"Our youth that is supposed to be curating their future, they're not paying attention or they're not feeling that their voice is gonna be heard," she said.
Perry is not alone in her passion for encouraging millennials to hit the polls. Rihanna tweeted and used Instagram to send out a list of voter registration deadlines.
GOOD MORNING AMERICAI don’t care what responsibilities you have today. There’s no greater responsibility than being in control of your future and it starts NOW!! REGISTER TO VOTE TODAY at https://t.co/k42TB6cvIZ & triple check that you are properly registered! Let’s go!! pic.twitter.com/i0Tnwsjd9E
— Rihanna (@rihanna) October 9, 2018
"I don’t care what responsibilities you have today. There’s no greater responsibility than being in control of your future and it starts NOW!!" she posted.
John Legend, another member of the Academy’s Los Angeles board, shared a video last month encouraging his followers to vote. Taylor Swift used her acceptance speech at the American Music awards as time to remind people to get out and vote during midterm elections. Recently, A Perfect Circle took advantage of their visit to the GRAMMY Museum to remind their fans to register to vote. Other artists like Common and Alicia Keys are also trying to inspire people to vote.
This National Voter Registration Day, research the voting rights in your state and make a plan to vote. By making your voice heard at the polls, you can determine the future of our country’s criminal justice system. Call https://t.co/2F1Uc6A3TO to know your rights. #NVRD pic.twitter.com/m79C1jayQV
— John Legend (@johnlegend) September 25, 2018
Using the recent passing and signing of the Music Modernization Act, which brought together songwriters, producers and artists, Perry says more thinking like that is needed to make change happen.
"That was people coming together that probably didn't think this would happen, but they put all their personal emotions aside and went and fought as a community and that made a huge difference," Perry said. "That's how we win battles by getting together as a community and fighting, and standing up and protecting."
