After a long and stressful campaign for the 2016 presidential election, the time to vote is finally right around the corner. On Tuesday, Nov. 8, Americans will head to the polls and cast their vote for either Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton or Republican nominee Donald Trump. One will become the next president of the United States and it's up to you to make that happen. Unfortunately, this year's election has been so tumultuous that you may be thinking about not voting. As you've probably heard, that would be a huge mistake, so please don't do that, but if you need even more convincing, listen to the following celebrities' reasons for voting.
It seems like celebrities have been more vocal than ever before when it comes to electing the next POTUS, which may or may not have to do with the roller coaster that is Trump and his dangerous remarks. Whatever the case, a bunch of famous individuals believe this is the most important presidential election yet, which is why they've done interviews, filmed their own campaigns, and taken to social media to educate others about why they need to vote.
In addition to it being something that no one should take for granted, here are a few other reason why celebs are voting and why they believe you should follow in their footsteps.
1. Lena Dunham
In an interview with Bustle, Lena Dunham gave her reason for why everyone should vote and said, "I will say to someone who's considering not voting that this is a really essential time. And it can feel as though your vote doesn't matter, or it's just sort of like one drop in the ocean. But the fact is it's one of the most important ways that we exercise our voice as citizens." She added, "You're not just voting for you, you're voting for those who came before you and gave you the right to vote, and you're voting for the people that you're going to leave behind. So you've got to think about them."
2. America Ferrera
America Ferrera believes voting "will shape your lives and the lives of your families and your children, who you're leaving behind," as she told The MVTO in September. "It is important to show up for yourself and know, especially inside the Latino community, that we have so much power, we have so much potential that we could exercise by using our voices in the voting booth," the Superstore star said. "And I think that when we show up and we decide to represent ourselves in the voting booth is when things will change for Latin American communities in the United States, so we need to show up for ourselves and exercise that power."
3. Amy Schumer
It's not secret that Amy Schumer is supporting Clinton and it's no secret why she wants everyone to vote for her, too. As you can see in the above Instagram, voting is important in the fight for women's rights. "Here I am before I knew we would have to fight for our reproductive rights for our entire lives," she wrote in her IG caption. "Before I knew that women wouldn't be paid equally to men. Before I saw my good friends and myself receive death threats for coming forward about being abused or raped or assaulted. And on and on and on. And that same little girl is proud to fight along with her brothers and sisters to keep the new little girls safer and stronger than we were. We can't get burnt out. We are so close. We need to fight and speak up and demand to be treated equally. Let's go."
4. Gina Rodriguez
Like pretty much everyone else on this list, Jane the Virgin actor Gina Rodriguez realizes "the importance of our voice." Really, it's that simple. Your voice is there for it to be heard and that includes going to the polls and voting for the next leader of our country.
5. Jamie Lee Curtis
When it comes to the 2016 election, Jamie Lee Curtis is one of the more outspoken celebrities. She hasn't minced her words or held back when it comes to her feelings about Trump. Based on a recent Instagram, she really hopes everyone votes on Tuesday. "The stakes are as high as they can be," she explained. "The Supreme Court, Nuclear Weapons, Global Warming, ISIS, Health Care, Race Relations. Today we should begin our month of service and get some skin in the game. If you haven't, give $, tweet daily, instagram the heck out of this, Snapchat your support as myriad animals, knock on doors, volunteer to help on Election Day!"
6. Keegan Allen
Pretty Little Liars' Keegan Allen voted early and if you can't do the same, he doesn't care, you should still vote on Tuesday with everyone else. "Please go out and vote," he wrote alongside a picture of himself with his voting sticker. "Or mail it in. Your voice and vote MATTERS. You have power in your personal choices. And voting feels good too...when you care about the country You live in. Be the difference, America."
7. Mario Lopez
If Saved by the Bell's A.C Slater voted, why shouldn't you? "Happy #NationalEarlyVoteDay!" he Instagrammed. He then made an important point: "If you don't vote you can't complain. It's your right & civic duty as an American to vote... #America #Democracy #IVoted." He's right, if you don't like the election results but you chose not to vote, then you can't complain.
8. Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Veep's Julia Louis-Dreyfus wants you to vote, because it could benefits the environment. By electing the right person into office, she believes the fight against climate change can hopefully one day end and that our Earth will become a healthier place to live.
9. Tony Goldwyn
His time as president on Scandal has clearly taught Tony Goldwyn the importance of voting. In a video shared on Instagram, the actor passionately said, "What you're really doing is your decision is going to impact every single level of our society down to your local community. The president sets a direction for the country and sets priorities that are going to effect you and your community unquestionably." Did he convince you?
10. Matt McGorry
Your one vote is significant and How to Get Away With Murder actor Matt McGorry wants you to realize that. "I'd say that it may feel like one vote is not significant, but the thing is if we all believe that our vote isn't significant, then we don't have a democracy. Which is one of the things that makes America America." As he continues to explain the video above, the power of individuals leads to the power of the collective. If we unite together and vote, then that creates change.
11. Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria wants everyone to vote, but she's especially passionate about getting out the Latino vote. "It's important for all Americans to vote, but it's specifically important for Latinos to vote," she said in a pro-voting video shared on Instagram. "We are disproportionately affected by policies in Washington. We are the fastest growing demographic in the United States. This is why you have to vote, and make your voice heard."
12. Debra Messing
Debra Messing has been extremely vocal about this particular election, but there is one simple reason she believes we all should cast our vote. As she wrote in the Instagram caption above, "Make a stand. Fight for the future you believe in." That's easy enough, right? You want to fight for your future and create change? Then you better vote.
13. Blake Lively
Like many other celebs, gender equality is one of the reasons Blake Lively is voting. "These facts are startling," she said about the image above. "The time is NOW. #VOTE #VOTE #VOTE Make your voice heard. Sitting back only silences you. This is your life. Your future. Your children's future. Time to roar." I couldn't have said it better myself.
14. Jesse Williams
Grey's Anatomy star Jesse Williams won't be silenced, and he doesn't want anyone else's voice to be silenced either. "People worked very hard, for a very long time, to keep you from voting," he wrote alongside a PSA he filmed. "Don't shut up. VOTE." He also explained, "Democracy is not a sham, it's a job. It's our job and it took too God damn long to get it to just let it slide."
15. Kendall Jenner
Kendall Jenner speaks straight to millennials in an Instagram video she's hoping many other members of her generation will take seriously. "We, the millennials, not just you, me included, all of us, we have so much power," she said in the video. "We are the biggest generation there is. I think we should take that power and really use it." If you have the power, then why not do something important with it?
16. Kerry Washington
During a September appearance on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, Scandal actor Kerry Washington let her voice by heard about voting. "I think if we really look at policy, voting for Trump is voting against our best interests as Americans, as workers, as people of color, as women. Not voting is voting against ourselves… and I think, in this election, voting for a third-party candidate is voting against ourselves." Olivia Pope has spoken.
17. Ellen Pompeo
If you don't want to "set the country back 50 years," as Pompeo reposted on Instagram, then you better vote on Tuesday. Need she say more?
These celebs really want you to vote — and you should probably listen.
