Tuesday, November 8, was Election Day for the 2022 midterm elections, and celebrities demonstrated what it means to do our civic duty. Voters will decide which party will control the U.S. House and Senate for the next two years in this year’s midterm elections and, thus, whether President Joe Biden will be able to complete his legislative agenda this term.
Voters will also decide the fate of critical issues such as abortion rights, both at the state and federal levels; after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, some Republicans threatened to impose a national abortion ban if they won both chambers of Congress. In contrast, Biden has promised to codify Roe into federal law if Democrats gain a few more Senate seats.
However, the midterm elections are about more than who governs in Washington D.C.; they are about who will lead your city, town, school boards, and local courts, and how those people will approach issues like reproductive rights, the climate crisis, the economy, education, and healthcare right in your own backyard.
The New York Times editorial board has also urged voters to consider how many of these midterm elections, such as those for secretary of state, attorney general, and governor, will “play critical roles in overseeing and certifying the 2024 presidential election.”
For this biennial occasion, citizens across the country have been voting for their preferred representatives in both chambers of Congress, including all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate. Celebrities are among those who have used their platforms to encourage others to vote.
Celebrities urging U.S fans to vote
The celebrities have flocked to encourage their fans to register to vote and make their voices heard. Taylor Swift and Zendaya were among the first to spread the word. Cardi B is just one of the dozens of musicians, actors, and celebrities who have collaborated with organizations such as HeadCount, Rock the Vote, and others to get Americans registered to vote.
‘Today is National Voter Registration Day, please don’t waste any more time,’ singer Billie Eilish said in a video for WhenWeAllVote. Register right away.’
‘This election will have a huge impact on us, and this year, four million Americans will turn 18 before November,’ she said, speaking directly to younger voters. Your opinion is important. ‘Make certain you use it.’
‘Check your voter registration status, register, and VOTE!!!’ Rihanna urged her 98 million followers. ‘Go to http://VOTE.ORG right now and vote.’
Demi Moore, Kesha, Hailey Bieber, Kate Hudson, and Laura Dern, as well as Oprah Winfrey, Halle Berry, and Ryan Reynolds, are among the celebrities urging fans to vote.
From former and current presidents to actors and musicians, many celebrities have been consistently exercising their civic duty in recent weeks. Barack and Michelle Obama were seen voting early in Chicago on Oct. 17, while President Joe Biden went to the polls on Oct. 29 with his granddaughter Natalie Biden, a first-time voter.
Famous people such as Kumail Nanjiani, Julianne Moore, Gina Torres, and Selena Gomez proudly displayed their “I Voted” stickers, encouraging their followers to do the same, while Kerry Washington shared a silly video of herself dancing around the box where she voted.