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How Celebs Are Helping Get Out the Vote for the 2020 Election

How Celebs Are Helping Get Out the Vote for the 2020 Election

These stars are doing everything they can to make sure your vote is counted on (or before!) Election Day, coming up on Nov. 3

By Diane J. Cho

Updated October 22, 2020 11:44 AM

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Jason Alexander, Mayim Bialik, Yvette Nicole Brown & More

Credit: The Creative Coalition/YouTube

These stars put on their best chicken suits to encourage everyone to give a cluck and vote in a new PSA from The Creative Coalition. The spot, written by Bill Prady and directed by LeVar Burton, reminds everyone that just “one vote could make the difference between a chicken or a fox guarding our henhouse.”

The celebrities in the clip include Jason Alexander, Mayim Bialik, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jon Cryer, Tim Daly, Lea DeLaria, Richard Kind, Patina Miller and Dascha Polanco.

Watch the full PSA here.

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Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O'Hara, Shangela & More

Credit: YouTube

Drag performers from all 50 states can be seen in this roll call video, hosted by the stars of the Emmy-nominated We're Here, called “We’re Here. We’re Queer. #WeVote.” The video, which is based on the 2020 virtual roll call from the Democratic National Convention, aims to reach LGBTQ voters and motivate them to the polls to let them know their votes matter and that LGBTQ voters are here, everywhere.

You can watch the full clip here.

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Halle Berry, Demi Lovato & Adam Rippon

Credit: ANGELA WEISS/AFP; Getty; Ari Perilstein/Getty; Taylor Hill/Getty

These stars have partnered with GLAAD to help get out the vote in their home states. Each of them have recorded voice messages to send to LGBTQ voters and allies in battleground states of Texas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania about early voting, voting deadlines, and the issues at stake in this election.

Texas native Lovato reminds voters that early voting is ongoing through Oct. 30, and says, “So much is on the line. Marriage equality, adoption, the safety and the dignity of transgender Americans, racial justice. Let’s use our voices to create a landslide for equality. We can do it, if we do it together.”

You can listen to Lovato's message here.

In a message to voters in her home state of Ohio, the Oscar winner reminds Ohioans that early voting is ongoing now through Nov. 2, or they can vote in person on Election Day, Nov. 3.

You can listen to Berry's message here.

The Olympic figure skating star has recorded calls going out to his home state of Pennsylvania, reminding voters that early voting is ongoing now in Pennsylvania through Oct. 27.

You can listen to Rippon's message here.

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Ariana Grande

The singer teased fans by posting a screenshot of a tweet on Instagram that said, "i can't wait to give u my album this month." She then captioned the post, "But let’s act like we don’t get to hear it unless we vote 🗳," which caused her comments to get flooded with excited fans, ready to vote and ready to blast new music!

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Reese Witherspoon

The Big Little Lies actress has shared a number of posts over the past few months encouraging fans to vote. "Get out and Vote," the actress captioned an Oct. 18 video of artist Jenny Holzer's work "YOU VOTE."

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Yara Shahidi

Shahidi is doing her happy dance and remaining faithful that her followers will vote and continue to stay involved even after the election.

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Lady Gaga

Gaga doesn't want you to give up when it comes to voting, so much so that she wrote a song to help you do it!

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Michael B. Jordan

The actor got all of our attention when he posted this too-hot-to-handle selfie to get people ready to run to the polls.

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LeBron James

Credit: Harry How/Getty Images

The four-time NBA champion's More Than a Vote organization will host When We All Vote Together early vote Weeks of Action — from Oct. 18 to 26 — to help people get excited to vote early. During these weeks of action, WWAV will provide transportation, food, music, personal protective equipment (PPE) and voter protection support to voters near early voting sites in cities around the country. Other Weeks of Action partners include Lyft, World Central Kitchen, BET, MTV, Comedy Central, National Urban League, and many more.

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Laura Dern

Stars like Dern, Julianne Moore, Big Freedia and Amy Schumer have lent their social media platforms for takeovers with Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, the nation's leading grassroots gun violence prevention organizations. The initiative encourages people to get involved by becoming a poll worker, becoming a poll monitor or joining a voter support squad to ensure voters that they have what they need on election day.

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Snoop Dogg

Credit: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Not only did the rapper say he would be voting for the first time ever this November, he also partnered with the Democratic National Committee to launch a new ad, "Drop It In The Box!" Featuring his hit song “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” the ad highlights how voters can drop their ballot in a convenient drop box location.

"This is the most important election of our lifetimes and it's my first time voting. We need every single American to get out there and vote,” said Snoop Dogg. “It's time for ya’ll to drop those ballots like they're hot — in your local drop box. Vote early and let ‘em know our voices will be heard!

The spot also directs voters to IWillVote.com to learn about drop box locations in their state and any other information they may need to make their plan to vote.

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Shaquille O'Neal

Credit: Rich Fury/Getty

The former NBA star may have accomplished a lot in his 48 years, but there's one thing the Hall of Famer has never done: vote.

During an episode of The Big Podcast with Shaq, however, the basketball icon revealed that he finally cast a ballot for the 2020 presidential election. "I voted for the first time, and it feels good," O'Neal revealed, noting that he recently submitted his absentee ballot.

Shocked to hear the confession, co-host John Kincade, exclaimed, "I can't believe it!"

O'Neal said a major factor in casting his ballot this year was that he had become more involved in various voting campaigns.

"You know I always like being honest on my podcast. I've never voted before, America. But, now I'm doing all these voting campaigns, and you know one thing I never like to do is be a hypocrite," he explained. The athlete did not reveal who he voted for.

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The Cast of GLOW

Credit: YouTube

Less than a week after Netflix announced that the series had been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the show's stars got together for a virtual reunion. In addition to taking a walk down memory lane, they encouraged their fans to vote in the 2020 presidential election.

“Our show is among many other things about people who sometimes feel powerless [that] do powerful things,” said Betty Gilpin. “Right now, I think the most powerful thing you can do is vote.”

Working together with HeadCount to support the Good to Vote campaign, the cast previously teased that if 250 of their fans registered to vote or made a voting plan, they would have the live Q&A — and if 1,000 joined in, Marc Maron would join in the fun.

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Samuel L. Jackson

Credit: Joe Biden/Youtube

In a new ad supporting Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, the actor gives a brief history lesson on voter suppression in the U.S. and urges voters to hit the polls as soon as they can to cast their ballot in the 2020 presidential election.

"New day, same old dirty tricks," Jackson says in the clip, before the ad runs through headlines about voting issues, including President Donald Trump's recent efforts against mail ballots.

“If your vote didn’t matter, they wouldn’t try so hard to take it from you," says Jackson.

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Hailey Baldwin

Baldwin modeled a mask with the word "vote" written all over to send her 29.5 million followers a message.

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Pharrell Williams

The star shared a quote from the late John Lewis, that reads, "The VOTE is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have."

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Mark Ruffalo

"In case you need a little reminder. You’re not only voting for yourself, but for your community, for your friends, for your family, for the LGBTQ+ community, for the next generation who cannot vote in this election, and many more marginalized communities in November," Ruffalo wrote on Instagram.

"Take a stand. Your vote & your voice matters," he added.

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Bradley Cooper

Watch as the A-lister breaks down the do's and don'ts of voting in Pennsylvania.

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Demi Lovato

Lovato loves this voter guide from I Am a Voter, so she's sharing it with you!

"Share it with your friends and fam who may need it 🖤 Let’s all do our part and place our votes this year! It’s so important," she wrote.

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America Ferrera

"What am I thinking about here?" Ferrera asked her followers on Instagram.

"A. How to get out the vote
B. How to get out the vote but smiling
C. How to get out the vote on @latenightseth tonight while also talking about @she_sepuede and @nbcsuperstore and wearing all the pink!"

Can you guess which one was right?

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Amber Tamblyn

"We’re less than 30 days out from the most important election in modern American history," the actress wrote on Instagram. "Join me and this powerful coalition of womxn at @themeteor for 30 days of actions, conversations, and voter education. Follow, watch, vote. No regrets."

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Viola Davis

"VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!" Davis captioned a clip from the vice presidential debate, which took place on Oct. 7.

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Octavia Spencer

The actress posted important by-mail voter registration deadlines to her 1.2 million followers.

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Taylor Swift

Credit: Taylor Swift/Instagram

Swift will also be voting for Biden, and revealed her choice to V Magazine.

In the issue, Swift said that the "change we need most is to elect a president who recognizes that people of color deserve to feel safe and represented, that women deserve the right to choose what happens to their bodies, and that the LGBTQIA+ community deserves to be acknowledged and included."

She also posted about her V Magazine cover on Instagram, writing, "I spoke to @vmagazine about why I’ll be voting for Joe Biden for president. So apt that it’s come out on the night of the VP debate. Gonna be watching and supporting @kamalaharris by yelling at the tv a lot."

"And I also have custom cookies 🍪💪😘," she added, referring to a second pic she included with herself holding a plate of Biden/Harris 2020 cookies.

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Jennifer Lawrence

Credit: Mark Makela/Getty Images; Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images; Michael A. McCoy/Getty Images

The actress revealed her endorsement for Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris, speaking to V Magazine as one of 12 cover stars for their upcoming Thought Leaders issue.

"I'm voting for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris this year because Donald Trump has and will continue to put himself before the safety and well-being of America," said Lawrence. "He does not represent my values as an American, and most importantly as a human being."

The Oscar winner noted that "voting is the foundation of our democracy and our freedom," adding that she "would consider this upcoming election the most consequential of our lifetime."

Lawrence also touched on her status as a board member for RepresentUs over the last three years, describing the group as "an incredible non-partisan movement and anti-corruption organization working to unrig America’s broken political system, and put power back in the hands of the American people."

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Kylie Jenner

The megastar got her 197.6 million followers to starting thinking about a voting plan by captioning a few sizzling shots on Instagram, "but are you registered to vote? click the link in my bio.. let’s make a plan to vote together"

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Frank Ocean

Credit: Theo Wargo/WireImage

Towards the end of the first presidential debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, the star posted an Instagram Story to ask his followers to vote, and to register on his website Blonded.co if they haven't already.

"Debates are on. It all feels fake. The problem's that it's not," Ocean wrote. "Donald is president and might not leave the White House even if he loses the race so some say. Pls vote. Watching him dragged out will be way more entertaining than these debates."

He added, "If you’re not registered swipe up to blonded.co the form just takes 2 minutes to fill out. Goodnight."

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Jamie Foxx

Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage

In a new video message for RepresentUs' United to Save the Vote initiative shared exclusively with PEOPLE, the Oscar winner sits on a staircase to explain how many Americans can cast their vote from the comfort of their own homes.

"Listen, this is the most important time. This right now, this election is the most important election," Foxx begins in the minute-long clip, then displaying a mail-in absentee ballot in his hand. "You can do all this at your crib. It says 'official early absentee ballot' but you're not absent — you are present at your house."

Foxx said the "self-explanatory" socially distanced voting format — which people are increasingly turning to amid the novel coronavirus pandemic — is "the way you let your voice be heard." (Voters can use online resources for the specific requirements around mail ballots in their states.)

"I cannot stress enough that this year we've gone through so much, we've gone through so many trials and tribulations, but this is how you allow your voice to be heard," he said. "People have marched, people have died back in the day so we can have the opportunity to vote."

In a statement to PEOPLE, Foxx says he's "part of United to Save the Vote because this is the most important moment in our lives." He adds: "Let’s not miss the moment. No matter how you vote, vote."

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Billie Eilish, DJ Khaled & Taylor Swift

Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Steve Granitz/WireImage; Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

These music superstars are rallying together to encourage voter registration.

On Sept. 15, 2020, the international advocacy organization Global Citizen and voter registration organization HeadCount announced the non-partisan Just Vote campaign, for which the goal is to "engage 1 million young voters and get 50,000 young people registered ahead of the 2020 elections."

In order to incentivize exercising one's right to vote, celebs will reward and engage young Americans by "offering exclusive experiences, performances and memorabilia donated by artists and entertainers that can only be unlocked through checking your voting registration status."

Some of the artists revealed so far to be participating in the campaign include Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Finneas, DJ Khaled, Billy Porter, Julianne Hough, Usher, Quavo, Loren Gray and Nicky Jam.

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Cobie Smulders

The actress shared on Instagram that she has become a U.S. citizen, and will be using her new opportunity to vote in the upcoming election.

"After many hours in a Federal building double masked, lathering myself repeatedly in hand sanitizer and acing the first test I've taken since High School I am a Dual Citizen of 🇨🇦/🇺🇸 (Canada you will always be my first ❤️)," she captioned a selfie.

"I have been living in the US for 16 years now working and paying taxes, making little humans, creating a family and making this Country my home," she continued. "But I have been unable to Vote. I am excited to do so in this coming election in November. It is an opportunity that I will not waste and am grateful to have my Vote count when so many people who are working and living in this country as long or longer than I have are not able to."

"Please do not waste this chance to express your beliefs and have it be counted," she urged. "Please do not think that your vote does not matter. It does."

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Andy Cohen

Credit: Getty

NBC News' Plan Your Vote initiative has tapped major stars like Cohen, Christian Slater, Porsha Williams, Kelly Clarkson and more to urge people to plan their vote, and to do it now.

Watch the full clip to see your favorite stars encourage you to vote — whether it's in-person, early or on election day.

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Leonardo DiCaprio

Credit: Dave J Hogan/Getty

PEOPLE has the exclusive first look at the star's video with Vox Media for a new limited series called, Whose Vote Counts, Explained, which is produced by Vox and Vox Media Studios, in partnership with his Appian Way Productions. Voting resources are available throughout the series from several organizations, including When We All Vote.

"In 1776, voting was a privilege, almost exclusively for white men with property," DiCaprio, 45, says in the clip.

"In the founding constitution, you will not find the right to vote. This right to vote has been a battlefield in American democracy," says a Black female voter.

"If your vote didn't matter, why the hell are so many systems and people trying so hard to prevent you from voting?" a Black male voter asks.

"All of us may have been created equal. But we'll never actually be equal until we all vote. So don't wait," DiCaprio says.

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Katie Holmes

Credit: SJZ/Shutterstock

Holmes was spotted out and about in N.Y.C. rocking a T-shirt emblazoned with the message “Vote Now” from Old Navy.

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Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum & Sam Neill

The Jurassic Park stars got together to send a message on Instagram.

“It’s National Voter Registration Day!" Dern wrote on Sept. 22. "Make sure you and your coworkers are signed up to vote. I did!!”

She added, “The future is voting. Link in my bio!!! #votethewayyouseeit #clevergirl #thefutureisvoting #justvote #voteready #nationalvoterregistrationday ✔️✔️✔️”

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Amy Schumer

Mama Schumer got the attention of her followers by posting this adorable clip of her son Gene, and then cleverly pivoting her caption to get people to vote.

"The world is burning but this was a nice moment. Please make a voting plan and make sure everyone in your phone has a voting plan supermajority.com can help," she wrote.

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Keke Palmer

The actress sent out a PSA on Instagram to get people excited and prepared to vote.

"It’s GO time poohs!! Gimme a heart in the comments if you and your crew is ready!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️," she captioned her clip.

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Katy Perry

The singer reposted I am a voter, a nonpartisan movement dedicated to creating a cultural shift around voting and civic engagement, to encourage her followers to "text VOTER to 26797 to find out if you are eligible to vote early or to vote by mail and request your mail-in ballot."

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Mike Tyson

The professional boxer shared on Twitter that he will be voting in the upcoming election after spending years thinking he was unable to participate.

"This election will be my 1st time voting," Tyson wrote. "I never thought I could because of my felony record."

"I'm proud to finally vote," he added.

The athlete announced the news alongside a link to register to vote and the hashtag "#NationalVoterRegistrationDay."

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Meghan Markle & Prince Harry

Credit: TIME

"We're six weeks out from the election, and today is Voter Registration Day," Meghan said on ABC in her and Harry's first primetime TV appearance to celebrate TIME magazine's annual list of the world’s most influential people. "Every four years, we're told, 'This is the most important election of our lifetime.' But this one is. When we vote, our values are put into action, and our voices are heard."

Harry also made a nonpartisan appeal for how people engage with each other online in the run-up to the Nov. 3 general election.

"As we approach this November, it's vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity," he said. "What we consume, what we are exposed to, and what we engage with online, has a real effect on all of us."

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How Celebs Are Helping Get Out the Vote for the 2020 Election

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Jason Alexander, Mayim Bialik, Yvette Nicole Brown & More

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Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O'Hara, Shangela & More

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Halle Berry, Demi Lovato & Adam Rippon

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Ariana Grande

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Reese Witherspoon

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Yara Shahidi

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Lady Gaga

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Michael B. Jordan

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LeBron James

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Laura Dern

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Snoop Dogg

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Shaquille O'Neal

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The Cast of GLOW

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Samuel L. Jackson

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Hailey Baldwin

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Pharrell Williams

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Mark Ruffalo

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Bradley Cooper

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Demi Lovato

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America Ferrera

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Amber Tamblyn

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Viola Davis

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Octavia Spencer

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Taylor Swift

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Jennifer Lawrence

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Kylie Jenner