Taylor Swift to the rescue for European elections ? The EU is counting on the singer to mobilize young voters

Taylor Swift au Golden Globe Awards le 7 janvier dernier. MAXPPP – CHRIS CHEW

Bruxelles a demandé à la superstar américaine de mobiliser les jeunes électeurs en vue des élections au Parlement européen qui se tiendront en juin prochain. 

After boosting the American economy, could Taylor Swift help increase the number of voters in the next European elections ?

According to the Vice-President of the European Commission, the Greek Margarítis Schinás, "no one can mobilize youth better than young people themselves (…) These are young people who can encourage young people to participate more  [in the ballots], much more than European commissioners in a press room (…) For example Taylor Swift", he said when discussing the next electoral deadlines for the European Union. 

Very influential personality

Elected personality of the year by Time magazine, the singer of "Shake it off" indeed has a colossal influence. Last September, she had already invited her approximately 270 million subscribers on Instagram to register on the Vote.org platform with a view to participating in the fall 2024 elections in the USA. Result: the organization recorded more than 35,000 new registrations that day, a jump of 23% compared to the same day a year earlier.

"I really hope that we do the same for young Europeans, I really hope that someone on his team media is following this conference and will be able to forward our request to them,” adds Margarítis Schinás.

Less than one in two young people voted in 2019

If the artist decided to send a message to her European audience, she would have her work cut out for her. Indeed, during the last European elections in May 2019, participation for those under 25 was only 42%, compared to 50.66% on average for the 27 countries of the Union. However, it was better than in 2014 when a rate of 28% was recorded.

More than 400 million Europeans will be called to the polls from June 6 to 9 in the 27 EU countries to renew Parliament, an institution that participates in the adoption of legislation alongside Member States.