Bad Bunny Once Again Proves to Be the Patron Saint of Voter Engagement
In 2019, Bad Bunny jumped into his political activism with gusto as protesters took to the streets to oust then-Governor Ricardo Rosselló.
Since then, the world-famous entertainer has continued to push young Puerto Ricans and fans to register to vote and get engaged. His latest call to action and lamenting of voter apathy is once again galvanizing young voters on the Caribbean Island.
The world-famous reggaeton singer is putting his star power behind a political movement again
Bad Bunny spoke frankly with Puerto Rican Youtuber El Tony about a wide range of topics and things eventually came around to politics.
With elections fast approaching on the island, the global superstar used his time to call out slackers failing to use their voices to exact change.
“I really care about Puerto Rico and I don’t know if it’s the weight of … I want to cry and everything,” Bad Bunny told El Tony in Spanish in an emotional moment during the interview.
“It’s good to go out on the streets to protest, to let ourselves be heard as people, but I think that the biggest act of protest is to vote against the people who have led us to this mess on Nov. 5.”
According to NBC News, Puerto Rico experienced record-low voter turnout in the 2016 election, with only 55%. The trend continued through the 2020 election. Puerto Rico has consistently been known for having a high voter turnout, but a growing distrust of governmental institutions has slowly chipped away at that number.
Young Puerto Ricans are registering to vote
Bad Bunny’s comments seem to have motivated young voters in Puerto Rico. As it stands, 75% of voting-age people under 21 are not registered to vote. After San Benito’s call to action, there have been mass voter registration drives to get people registered before the September 21st deadline.
Seriously. Bad Bunny’s disappointment in voter engagement among young Puerto Ricans hit as hard as a parent saying how disappointed they are in you. Like, who would ever want to disappoint Bad Bunny?
This isn’t the first, and definitely won’t be the last, time that Bad Bunny has tried to motivate voters.
Earlier this year, fans had a chance to score two concert tickets for his Most Wanted Tour for the price of one if they showed a valid voter ID when purchasing the tickets.
The initiative, called “Sácala y Perrea,” helps to continue bolstering Bad Bunny’s political activism.
Who can forget when Bad Bunny registered to vote in August 2020 and created a media frenzy? If it’s good enough for San Benito, what is your excuse?
Over the years, Bad Bunny has consistently solidified his place as the Patron Saint of Voter Engagement, and it is working. His ability to motivate voters and get them in line to do their civic duty is admirable. Celebrities using their power to get people to vote is a necessary part of their public persona, and he understands the assignment.
There is a lot at stake in the upcoming election for both Puerto Rico and the U.S. Voting is a way to make your voice heard and create the world you want to see. If you haven’t registered to vote, you can do it here.
