As hosts of the beloved YouTube discuss present “Good Legendary Morning,” Rhett McLaughlin and Hyperlink Neal have been trusted Web figureheads for over a decade.
In recent times, the 2 have used their good-natured humor and inclusive method to achieve their followers — affectionately referred to as “Legendary Beasts” — about necessary points.
From hilariously informing viewers about colon most cancers prevention to sharing a portion of their merch gross sales with nonprofits, they’ve confirmed that it’s attainable to make entertaining content material — and a distinction — all on the identical time.
This yr, the duo has re-launched their voter registration platform: Vote Like A Beast.
“Vote Like A Beast is again,” Neal excitedly introduced in a current video, “…to offer you a one-stop-shop to arrange to vote on this yr’s election.”
The platform was created in partnership with Vote.org and options straightforward steps to register to vote, affirm one’s registration standing, request a mail-in poll, find out about candidates, and extra.
“You may go to VoteLikeABeast.com proper now to entry nonpartisan instruments to be sure to have all the things it is advisable to forged your vote and accomplish that in a means that aligns along with your viewpoint,” Neal continued.
This isn’t the primary time the platform has been accessible to viewers. Vote Like A Beast first launched forward of the 2020 election, registering over 23,000 new voters in a time when registration efforts had been particularly pointed at younger voters in a contentious race between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
It’s no shock the identical efforts are getting used once more for what’s being referred to as a ‘Groundhog Day’ of a presidential election in 2024.
Curbing disillusionment amongst younger voters
Whereas the Legendary Beast viewers spans generations, a census survey from three years in the past confirmed that almost all of Rhett and Hyperlink’s viewers fall throughout the 25–34 age vary.
Making up practically one-fifth of the American citizens, voters aged 18–34 are essential to the outcomes of this yr’s elections. The one bother? They’re feeling fairly disillusioned — if not totally outraged — by the present political panorama.
In a ballot performed by the Harvard Opinion Venture, which surveys younger American voters, 41% of respondents indicated that they “don’t consider my vote will make an actual distinction.” This is a rise by 3% in comparison with their responses within the spring of 2020.
This sort of disillusionment is comprehensible, amid numerous political points which will appear insurmountable to a demographic of people that have been burned earlier than.
However there are nonetheless methods to be ok with voting — even when issues are trying dangerous.
“Voting is a person act that has collective penalties. Voting is a chance for people to return collectively as a collective and specific their preferences for events, candidates, and insurance policies,” Bridgett King, an affiliate professor of political science on the College of Kentucky, instructed Good Good Good final month.
“It’s a software that can be utilized to precise satisfaction or dissatisfaction and talk to these in energy that each people and communities are taking note of what our elected officers are — or usually are not — doing.”
Plus, the presidential election shouldn’t be the one matter at hand. Voting in native elections can deliver large change on a smaller scale — and rapidly.
Instruments like Vote Like A Beast goal to scale back the limitations to civic engagement and supply younger voters with the knowledge they should “analysis candidates and their stances at your native, state, and nationwide elections,” Neal emphasised.
Whereas a big share of younger voters is probably not keen to take part, they are going to nonetheless take part nonetheless.
“I take voting as a really severe privilege that I gladly make,” one fan replied to a social media publish about Vote Like A Beast. “I’ve mobility points so I get the Arizona early mail-in poll.”
Vote Like A Beast additionally has some merchandise choices for voters who might fall right into a extra optimistic headspace, together with tote luggage, buttons, and bumper stickers. All earnings from these things will go to Vote.org.
“Want ‘I voted like a Beast’ or ‘This Legendary Beast voted at the moment’ sticker choices,” one other fan replied to Legendary on X (previously Twitter). “Please and thanks.”
Regardless of the sticker design or the explanation somebody heads out to the polls, voting is only one aspect of civic engagement — one which requires people-power to work.
“We’d like all people to make their voice heard on an important points that impression all of us,” McLaughlin stated in an announcement video for the platform again in 2020, mirroring the messages younger voters hear at the moment.
“You should utilize these instruments … to deliver [your] power and fervour to the poll field with knowledgeable and considerate consideration.”
Header photographs courtesy of Vote Like A Beast/Legendary Leisure
