It’s election day and campaigns across the country are working hard to get their supporters to polls. While Stacey Abrams and Andrew Gillum are hoping to become the first Black governors of Georgia and Florida, respectively, Black celebrities have gotten into the mix and are encouraging their fans to let their voices be heard at the ballot box.
Yara Shahidi, who founded the Eighteenx18 initiative, implored young people to vote in this year’s midterm elections.
“I’m so excited right now,” Shahidi told her Instagram followers, while standing in front of a sign for a polling place. At just 18 years old, this is the young actor’s first time voting in an election.
As Shahidi rallied young voters, people like Oprah Winfrey, Sean “Diddy” Combs, and Kelly Rowland hit the ground to campaign with candidates in Georgia, Texas, and Florida.
Rowland flew to the Lone Star State on Monday to support Democrats Beto O’Rourke, who’s running to unseat Senator Ted Cruz, and Colin Allred, a civil rights attorney who’s hoping to beat Republican incumbent Congressman Pete Sessions.
Meanwhile, Combs hopped on a plane after his epic 49th birthday bash to join Will Packer, Tiffany Haddish, Monica Brown, and DJ Khaled in Florida to rally students at Florida A&M University and help Gillum “bring it home.”
“The polls are open, everybody get out there and vote,” Carey told her fans. While Foxx reminded young people that their votes matter.
Rock teamed up with Color of Change and fellow funny-man Keegan-Michael Key to inform voters who may encounter suppression tactics at the polls.
“Black people, they’re trying to keep Black people from voting,” Key exclaimed after some hilarious prodding by Rock.
“They can’t tell you that you can’t vote. You have the right to ask for a provisional ballot,” Key continued before telling what to do–and who to call–if they encounter any issues at their polling location.
Not to be outdone, rapper Piles hopped on social media to share his excitement about election day and his hope that Abrams and Gillum will both win their historic races.
“Andrew Gillum gone get ’em and Stacey Abrams my winner,” Plies sang. “They tryna divide us with hate, but it ain’t gone work today.”
Let’s see if he’s right.
