Election 2020

Voting’s Never Been This, Well, Cool

A new nonpartisan group is giving voting an Instagram-friendly rebrand.

by Brianna Kovan
Woman on her phone
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Voting gets a bad rap. Apologies to all AP U.S. History teachers and real-life Leslie Knopes, but "civic duty" is an annoyingly stuffy turn of phrase.

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Enter a new group.

The nonpartisan organization I Am A Voter hopes to change that. Started in 2018, the all-volunteer team aims to make voting, well, cool. It's led by a team of PR and marketing gurus, talent agency veterans, and activists — including actors Sophia Bush and Debra Messing.

Courtesy of I Am A Voter
It's collected a roster of A-list supporters — like Lizzo, Meghan Trainor, Michael B. Jordan, and the One Tree Hill stars — and has partnered with brands like H&M and Stuart Weitzman on custom pieces.

It ultimately hopes to increase voter participation, especially among millennials and younger people, by treating voting like an aspirational new brand — while also providing helpful registration links, state by state guides, and factoids.

Courtesy of I Am A Voter

The organization's Instagram account, which floods the already busy social-media space, uses a minimalist, pared-down aesthetic.

Courtesy of I Am A Voter

“It doesn't end in November. This is something that’s fundamental to who we are as humans.”

April Uchtel, a founding member, tells Bustle about voting.

On July 26, which the group dubbed "Register a Friend Day," it reported reaching 2.5 billion people on social media. Even Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, and Lisa Kudrow joined the celebration.

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Voting, but make it fashion. Select pieces are available on the group's website.

Are you ready for Election Day? Start by registering to vote and making a plan for Nov. 3.

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