The Power and Limitations of Celebrity Political Endorsements
The influence of celebrity endorsements continues to be a fascinating phenomenon in American politics. While celebrities wield considerable power to mobilize voters, their endorsements don’t necessarily translate into direct votes for their chosen candidates. This complex dynamic reveals both the potential and limitations of celebrity influence in modern democratic discourse.
How to Navigate Political Polarization Through Media Literacy
By: Yasmine Ganemtore, Fair Elections Center Communications Intern Political polarization in the United States is influenced by various factors, and one significant contributor is media illiteracy. But what exactly is media illiteracy? In essence, it’s the inability to critically evaluate and understand the information we consume. This leads people to rely on biased sources or, […]
A Study on Campus Voting Access
MTV Entertainment Studios recently partnered with students at Duke University’s Master in Interdisciplinary Data Science program to study voting access on college campuses. The research team looked at polling place distribution in 2012, 2016, 2018, and 2020 to see how close or far college students across the country are to voting options—and how that access […]
How Gerrymandering Dilutes Your Vote, And What You Can Do About It
Redistricting, the act of redrawing district boundaries based on census data every decade, can lead to gerrymandering, a practice where district boundaries are strategically manipulated to significantly influence election outcomes. Various factors, such as compactness and population equality, are considered when drawing district maps. In some states, new district maps must be drawn by bipartisan […]
Environment and Youth Activism: What do we do?
The celebration of Earth Month 2024 marks a monumental achievement by humanity–concerning ourselves with the future. In our continued lack of foresight, humanity has caused dramatic shifts in the climate that will forever change the planet. Youth, defined as individuals between the ages of 15 and 24, are the most vulnerable to the environmental crisis […]
How Civics Education (or Lack Thereof) Shape Youth Political Engagement
In a world where the youth are the future, why are so many young people disinterested in politics and civic engagement? Youth apathy towards politics and civic engagement has long been a topic of concern and criticism. From older generations to politicians themselves, there is a questioning of where this lack of interest stems from. […]
Show Love For Your Community This Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is a holiday dedicated to showing love to others. This love can be shown to a partner, friends, or family. Celebrating Valentine’s Day typically means intentionally acting to show care to those closest to us. I believe that voting is a way to express love for one’s community and country. When you cast […]
“I found my safe space:” How I Navigate My Mental Health as an Activist
Yasmine Ganemtore is excited to be joining the CVP communication team as an intern. Ganemtore is currently a rising sophomore pursuing degrees in Political Science and English with the goal of becoming an immigration lawyer in the future. She is passionate about breaking down barriers and promoting access to education for all, which is why […]
Tu Voto Tiene Poder
Fiorella Recchioni is a second year student at the University of Florida pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Mass Communications; she currently serves as a communications intern with the Campus Vote Project. Fiorella was born and raised in the U.S. after her parents emigrated from Argentina, but she grew up […]
Voting Rights Summer
This summer, we remember several important milestones in protecting our fundamental right to vote: The March on Washington, the Voting Rights Act, the 26th Amendment, and the Supreme Court’s decision in a case known as Shelby v. Holder. Below, we asked staff and students at Fair Elections Center and its Campus Vote Project to reflect […]
