Celebrities can and do play an influential role in driving turnout at the polls and other civic engagement, a new Harvard University study found.
With just 80 days remaining until the 2024 election, the study — written by Ashley Spillane and published through The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation and the Harvard Kennedy School — provides timely insights on how stars leverage their platforms to help get out the vote and encourage political dialogues in the U.S.
The study focused on nonpartisan activity – such as general voter education, registration and mobilization – rather than actions taken by a specific candidate or party. Past efforts by celebrities like Taylor Swift, Kerry Washington, Billie Eilish, Trevor Noah, Hailey Beiber, David Dobrik and Questlove were analyzed.
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Looking at the 2018, 2020 and 2022 election cycles, Spillane spoke with talent managers, publicists, nonprofit partners and philanthropic advisors about best practices for celebrities in this space. Most interesting is that celebrity engagement in civic causes can be highly beneficial, both for democracy and for a star’s image and bottom line.
However, these bold names should tread carefully: authenticity and alignment with causes is crucial. Posts and other content that read false or vague can bring challenges, as well as setting up insufficient metrics by which a celeb’s individual impact could be measured. This is particularly true in the digital space, according to the study.
The North Star for celebs with huge followings and high profiles is to work with expert partners. Maintaining transparency regarding fees, funding and fundraising is also essential to ensure positive outcomes and avoid potential misunderstandings and backlash from the online community.
“There are three major reasons why voters in the U.S. turn out in lower numbers than our peer nations: lack of information, lack of trust and lack of motivation,” Spillane said. “Given their ability to garner media coverage, attract large crowds, reach their fans and influence society, celebrities are among the most well-positioned members of society to address all of three of these challenges. Using their powerful platforms, these influential figures can encourage and empower more everyday Americans to use their voices and exercise their civic rights.”
Click here to read the full report.
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