Teslas for Voting? Only in 2020
Known for all kinds of crazy stunts, notorious YouTuber David Dobrik has done everything from taking a convertible through a carwash to giving away 10,000 dollars to strangers. But his latest idea is something you might not expect. Though he has given away Teslas in the past, this time, he’s taken these gifts to a whole new level: rewarding five of these sleek electric vehicles to five random fans. The simple criteria? Registering to vote. The idea first came from a fan’s comment on Tiktok, where Dobrik loved the proposition. Since he is not a citizen himself, he reasoned that he needed others to voice their opinions in our democracy.
Compared to his previous, mind-blowing giveaways, like a wad of cash or a brand new PS4, David’s latest scheme seems even more meaningful. He has used his platform to incentivize a positive action: civic engagement that benefits Americans everywhere. And David isn’t the only one using his platform to create change. The woman formerly known for giving away cars on her TV show, Oprah has also taken a major stance in the upcoming election in order to turn out people to the polls. She focuses on informing her fans, encouraging them to have a voting plan for the day they hand in their ballot through virtual “town hall meetings.” To put on these town halls, she invites informed guests to talk about the topics Americans will be voting on.
One specific meeting discussed the murder of George Floyd, and how this awful event sheds light on important topics such as systemic racism, and how we as a country can come together to create tangible and feasible plans for change. Winfrey invited guests Ava DuVernay, an American filmmaker who was the first Black woman to win the U.S. dramatic competition at the Sundance Film Festival, and Stacey Abrams, an American politician, author, and voting rights activist. These powerful women talked about these pressing issues drawing nearly eleven-million citizens to tune in. Winfrey has even focused on specific areas of the country to encourage demographics with historically lower voter turnouts to participate and vote. And it doesn’t stop there. Oprah has even taken it upon herself to directly call voters and ask them about their plan for Election Day with specific questions like: “When are you going to the polls? How are you getting there? And what are you doing to celebrate for contributing to your country?”
Both the 2016 and 2020 election, as we’ve now learned, were close calls for candidates. With low voter turnout in 2016, Oprah has gone above and beyond to ensure every community took part in voting this last election.
Oprah and David are just two examples of celebrities that have used their platform to ensure more voter engagement in the past election. By incorporating informative meetings, thought out plans, and exciting incentives, getting to the polls has become just that much easier. Properly researching your own sources to inform your votes and opinions is more necessary than ever in the age of misinformation and social media. The good news is these materials are the most accessible they have ever been, and despite how overwhelming the constant posts, messages, and tweets may seem, they always present an opportunity for you to do your part as an informed voter.
Even though most of us are too young to vote, it is still important to educate ourselves and participate as much as possible so we, too, can fight for our rights in elections to come. Gen Z has been known to speak out about issues such as LGBTQ+ rights, racial injustice, women’s rights, body positivity, and so much more. By voting and informing ourselves, we can have a major effect on the matters that impact our futures. For those who can, exercising that right is the least we can do to make our voices heard.