With the presidential election quickly approaching, Joss Whedon, an American writer, producer, director and composer, is doing his best to get the message out to as many people as possible to get out and vote. Whedon recently created the super PAC “Save the Day,” and his mission is to promote “the idea that voting is a necessary and heroic act… the only thing that can save democracy is the act that defines it.” The pro-Hillary super PAC released its first celebrity-filled video on September 21, and plans to release up to 25 more videos before Election Day on November 8.
For those who may not know, a super PAC, or Political Action Committee, is an independent organization that can potentially raise nearly unlimited funds to influence elections through their own advocacy and advertisements, which must be not be in conjunction with the candidate or platform that they are supporting.
Save the Day is quickly becoming an incredibly important super PAC because, after only being public for a short period of time, it is already being widely discussed and shared. The title “Save the Day” is apt, as it serves as both a nod to Whedon’s and several actors in the video’s involvement in creating superhero movies, while also reminding viewers that by not voting they could be entrusting this country to “a racist, abusive coward who could permanently damage the fabric of our society.” Also, the first video released by Save the Day had many well-known and well-liked actors who are using their fame to gain support for a cause they believe in. While past studies have shown that an actor’s opinion might not necessarily influence someone, it will at least get the peoples’ attention and get them thinking and debating the subject.
While the first video released by Save the Day does have comedic undertones, that shouldn’t take away from it overarching message to get out and vote this November. In fact, the jokes should just accentuate the fact that much of this election is absurd. In order to end this absurdity, eligible Americans need to use their right to vote. In the last presidential election in 2012, only 56.5% of Americans over the age of 18 voted, and only 71.2% were even registered to vote in the first place. As for the people who make up the majority of Whedon’s fanbase, those aged 18 to 24, only 38.0% voted and 53.6% were registered. For comparison, fewer people between the ages of 18 and 24 voted and were registered to vote than in any other age group (US Census Bureau, 2013). Although actors’ opinions aren’t super influential, fans of the actors might be more likely to be swayed by their opinion.
For anyone who still thinks that voting isn’t important or that one vote doesn’t matter, recall the EU Referendum on June 23rd of this year. The United Kingdom’s imminent departure from the European Union is because 51.9% of voters wanted to leave, whereas 48.1% voted to stay (BBC News, 2016). That’s less than a 4% difference, and had more than 72% of eligible voters actually gone to the polls that day, the results could have easily been very different.
This November, it is of the utmost importance to go to the polls and vote. If the thought of a person described by Joss Whedon as “orange Muppet Hitler” potentially running this country and having access to nuclear codes is frightening to you, then make sure you make it to the polls on November 8th. Make sure you’re registered and, if you’re away, get your absentee ballot, because every vote matters.
