The advertising industry specializes in inspiring people to take action, and where better to start than with its own members? Many younger adults, 18-30, do not participate in one of the most important ways to take action or stand up for issues about which they care: voting. The recently launched Voting MAVEN, which stands for “media and advertising voters engaging now,” wants to change that by inspiring industry professionals to go to the polls on Election Day, particularly the industry’s younger professionals.
“We see so any things happening in our country, and we recognize that the democratic process is more important than ever – and we recognize the role that media advertising play in our democracy,” Ashley J. Swartz, Chair of Voting MAVEN and Chief Executive Officer of Furious Corp., said in this interview with Beet.TV. “We want to leverage our skills and what we do best empower our employees to take action and make their voices heard.”
She cited recent data indicating that less than a third of people ages 18 to 30 voted in the 2018 midterm elections. This year’s midterm election is particularly important because it may determine whether control of both houses of Congress switches parties, which also would affect the legislative agenda for the Biden administration. Democrats have slim majorities over Republicans in the House of Representatives and Senate.
This video includes supportive testimonials from several industry leaders:
- Carryl Pierre-Drews, chief marketing officer, Interactive Advertising Bureau
- Latraviette D. Smith-Wilson, chief marketing and equity officer at Horizon Media
- Bob Liodice, president and chief executive of the Association of National Advertisers
- Marla Kaplowitz, president and chief executive of the American Association of Advertising Agencies
- Matt Scheckner, chairman of Advertising Week
- Steve Pacheco, president and chief executive of the American Advertising Federation
Voting MAVEN is non-partisan and has recruited a variety of trade associations and companies to support its efforts:
- Association of National Advertisers (ANA)
- American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A’s)
- American Advertising Federation (AAF)
- Chicago Advertising Federation (CAF)
- Chicago Interactive Marketing Association (CIMA)
- Las Vegas Innovation Marketing Association (LVIMA)
- Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB)
- She Runs It
- Publicis Media
- GroupM
- Horizon Media
Swartz said she wants more organizations to get involved and pledge their support for Voting MAVEN, whose website provides resources for voters and a playbook for employers to engage and activate their own organizations to get out and vote. Those interested can contact the Voting MAVEN team through the contact form on the same website.
