With polling day on the horizon and presidential debates just around the corner, The Drum takes a look at the best get-out-the-vote campaigns created by brands this election year.
In an election year bolstered by the Covid-19 pandemic, the subsequent economic recession, and the ongoing fight against racial injustice – brands are taking it upon themselves to use their influence to get the US voting on 3 November.
Past election statistics have shown than many Americans don't make use of their vote, particularly the younger generations. In the 2016 presidential elections, less than half of 18-29 year olds didn’t vote.
Joining forces from across the sectors, brands in the technology, retail and entertainment realms are hoping to encourage eligible voters to make their voices heard in the upcoming US midterm elections.
Strategies vary from brands creating everything from voting merchandise, to campaigns encouraging the general public to go out and vote. Some brands are also paying their own employees to work at the polls, while others are giving them time off to go and cast their vote.
Featured below are some of the highlights from the campaigns encouraging voters to use their voice in the upcoming election.
Patagonia: ‘Vote the Assholes Out’
Known for its strong stance on environmentalism, outdoor brand Patagonia has included a special message on the labels of its recent range of shorts.
‘Vote the Assholes Out‘ was confirmed by Patagonia spokesperson on Twitter as a legitimate campaign in line with the brand's historic political and environmental activism.
Patagonia’s founder, Yvon Chouinard, has been talking about voting the assholes out for several years and by “assholes,” he means “politicians from any party who deny or disregard the climate crisis and ignore science.”
“Remember, vote the assholes out — all of those politicians who don't believe we should do anything about climate change,” wrote Chouinard in a blog post for the 1% for the Planet community at the start of the pandemic.“Vote for the planet and against those who would do nothing. We have the power and now is the time to use it.”
Three years ago, Patagonia also sued the Trump administration for its decision to shrink the size, by roughly two million acres, of two national monuments in Utah.
: 'Vote the Assholes Out'
Absolut: ‘#VoteResponsibly’
In other brand news, Pernod Ricard USA have announced that all employees will receive paid time off on Tuesday 3 November to vote in the upcoming election.
In an effort to ensure all voices from America’s spirits industry are heard at the polls, chair and CEO of Pernod Ricard North America, Ann Mukherjee, will also call upon industry leaders and peers to do the same for their employees.
In addition to time off, Pernod Ricard’s flagship premium vodka brand, Absolut, is launching a non-partisan, integrated ’Drink Responsibly. #VoteResponsibly’ campaign which delivers the message: ’Vote First, Drink Second.’
: '#VoteResponsibly'
Under Armour: ‘Run to Vote’
Another brand that is encouraging its employees as well as its customers to participate in the vote, is exercise brand Under Armour.
‘Run To Vote,‘ a first-ever program for the company with the goal of increasing voter turnout and removing barriers that can keep people from making an impact in democracy.
At the helm of this first-time initiative is Under Armour president and chef executive Patrik Frisk. This election marks the first time he has voted in the US since becoming a citizen – his experience navigating the political system here prompted him to leverage the company he leads and what it stands for to make voting easier for everyone.
: 'Run to Vote'
‘Vote Like A Madre’
Hoping to represent the Latinx voting demographic, Latina mothers are taking over social media pinky promising their kids they’ll ’#votelikeamadre’ on 3 November to fight climate change.
In a campaign spearheaded by some of the most recognizable Latina moms from across music, television, film, and business, including Jennifer Lopez, Eva Longoria, Salma Hayek, Zoe Saldana, Jessica Alba, Jordana Brewster, Joy Huerta, and Desi Perkins, ’#VoteLikeAMadre’ urges moms to fight for their kid’s future by electing leaders with aggressive plans to fight climate change.
: '#VoteLikeAMadre'
HBO: ‘Rock the Vote’
Further celebrity endorsement comes from HBO and Rock the Vote, which are kicking off a new partnership that encourages voters to highlight the issues that have most affected their daily lives, families and communities.
The PSA features artists and actors including Spike Lee, Natasha Rothwell, Robin Thede, Samantha Bee and more representing issues like equality, Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive justice, and climate change.
: 'Vote Because'
Ad Council: ‘Vote For Your Life’
ViacomCBS, in partnership with the Ad Council, launched ’Vote For Your Life’, a mass voter registration, early voting, and get-out-the-vote campaign crafted to respond to the specific challenges of the upcoming 2020 election season.
Voter registration is down by as much as 70% in some states, largely affecting millennials and Gen Z voters aged 18-30. Adding to this registration crisis, the pandemic is making it even more critical for all voters to learn about and take advantage of their options to vote early or absentee.
: 'Vote for Your Life'
Reddit: ‘Up the Vote’
This campaign marks Reddit’s first-ever brand marketing campaign and falls under its wider voter engagement initiative, ‘Up The Vote.‘ The creative draws parallels between engagement with content on Reddit and participation in real-life elections.
A bedrock of the platform experience, Reddit users cast more than 165 million votes on the site every day to help determine the content most celebrated and what falls to the bottom of the feed.
The new campaign urges Reddit’s 130,000+ active communities and the population at large to bring this same passion to voting in real life, and unite around a shared effort to shape our futures.
: 'Up The Vote'
