Taylor Swift’s Penned a Political Hit: How She Rewards First Time Voters

Her Instagram is filled with a gallery of people who have newly registered to vote or voted early.

Taylor Swift attends the 2018 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 20, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Swift recently announced her endorsement for Tennessee Democrats Phil Bredesen and Jim Cooper. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Taylor Swift attends the 2018 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 20, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Swift recently announced her endorsement for Tennessee Democrats Phil Bredesen and Jim Cooper. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
FilmMagic

Celebrities are out in full swing this election season. Will Ferrell is knocking on doors in Georgia. Travis Scott is rallying with Beto O’Rourke in Texas. And Taylor Swift is using Instagram to give first timers voters attention.

But it’s the 28-year-old pop star that is really making an impact with her fans.

Swift’s Instagram story has recently morphed into a continuous updated gallery of people who have either newly registered to vote or voted early. To get on her feed, users just have to tag #justvoted and mention Swift in the caption. Swift then takes the photo and shares it with her 112 million followers, with captions like “Not all heroes wear capes … Some wear voting stickers on their fingers,” or the addition of a “QUEEN” banner.

Rock-the-vote efforts by celebrities is not new, writes The Atlantic. But Swift’s does seem to represent a savvy, well-timed evolution. The singer has been infamous for keeping her mouth shut about her personal political opinions. But in early October, she forcefully endorsed two Democrats running for Congress in her home state of Tennessee.

The Instagram post likely contributed to a surge of more than 100,000 young adults registering to vote, reports The Atlantic. Since then and despite backlash from right-leaning listeners, Swift has doubled-down on her campaigning, but within clear and careful parameters.

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