So, we\u2019re turning to science – more specifically, psychology and behavioral econ – to determine the best way to persuade your friends to vote. By the end of this, you\u2019ll know how to craft the perfect statements to get your friends to exercise their political rights.<\/p>\n
1. Induce FOMO<\/h3>\n
What to say: <\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI talked to Jordan, Leah, Hannah, and Danny, and they\u2019re all voting. Are you?”<\/p>\n Why it works:<\/strong><\/p>\n We all want to fit in – it\u2019s a desire that doesn\u2019t end after high school. One of the biggest findings in behavioral science<\/a> is that humans are motivated to do what other people around them are doing.<\/p>\n Take this study, where researchers tested five different letters asking participants to vote (ex. \u2018It\u2019s your civic duty,\u2019 \u2018check out your neighbors\u2019 voting records,\u2019 \u2018your records are public,\u2019 etc). What type of messaging was most effective?<\/p>\n Seeing your neighbors\u2019 voting records. Voters who knew their neighbors hit the polls were 8.1% more likely to vote, compared to the control group.<\/p>\n If you tell your friend that your other friends are voting, they\u2019ll be more compelled to vote. It\u2019ll establish that voting is the norm, and is expected in your circle. Yep, science backs FOMO.<\/p>\n What to say:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re a voter, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n Why it works:<\/strong><\/p>\n According to behavioral science, the difference between \u2018voting\u2019 and being a \u2018voter\u2019 is more significant than you\u2019d think.<\/p>\n While \u2018voting\u2019 is a one-time action, being a \u2018voter\u2019 is an aspect of your identity. It means you\u2019re an upstanding citizen, politically conscious, socially active, or patriotic.<\/p>\n If your friends perceive themselves as any of those things, they\u2019ll want to call themselves a \u2018voter.\u2019 They\u2019ll feel compelled to vote so they can align with their identity and avoid cognitive dissonance (read: having inconsistent beliefs).<\/p>\n In fact, researchers found that those who identify as a \u201cvoter\u201d are 11% more likely to vote than people who don\u2019t.<\/p>\n What to say:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWhat time are you going to the polls, and how are you getting there?\u201d<\/p>\n Why it works:<\/strong><\/p>\n Have you ever told yourself, \u2018I\u2019m going to exercise more,\u2019 but failed to follow through? Or promised that you\u2019ll budget better<\/a>, but fell short? This is what\u2019ll probably happen to some of your friends on Election Day – they\u2019ll tell themselves they\u2019ll vote, but won\u2019t actually find the time to make it to the booth.<\/p>\n Countless studies have shown that we\u2019re more likely to translate goals into actions if we make a concrete plan. Not only that, but we\u2019re even more likely to follow through with a commitment if we vocalize it to friends or family.<\/p>\n When researchers asked people about their voting plan (aka, when and where they\u2019ll vote), they were twice as likely to vote than those who were simply asked if they were going to vote.<\/p>\n\t <\/i>Asking a friend when, where, and how they\u2019ll vote won’t only help them develop a plan, but will also eliminate any excuses for not going. #NoExcuses.<\/a><\/i><\/p>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t What to say:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll text you on election day to see how voting went!\u201d<\/p>\n Why it works:<\/strong><\/p>\n Voting is cool. Not voting isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n Turns out, several people vote because they want to tell others they voted (whether or not this is a good thing is a different topic). A group of economists tested whether social image is a driving force behind voter turnout, and found that it plays a significant roll.<\/p>\n Another study even found that if you promise to ask a friend if they voted, they\u2019ll be twice as likely to hit the polls.<\/p>\n It all comes down to this: Your friends will want to avoid the shame of admitting they didn\u2019t vote, and feel a sense of pride saying they did.<\/p>\n Right now, your friends are probably being nagged by mass emails, spammy Facebook posts, and their parents to vote. But truth is, no one is as influential as you.<\/p>\n Why? Studies show that most of us listen to our friends more than we\u2019ll listen to anyone else (sorry, mom).<\/p>\n Taking two minutes to get your friends to vote is more than a good deed. It\u2019s a way for you to transcend your own rights, and inspire others to stand up for what they believe in (whether it\u2019s gun control<\/a> or environmentalism<\/a>) and embrace their fundamental freedom.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Here\u2019s what to say to get your friends to exercise their most fundamental freedom, and contribute to the future of our country.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":4479,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,13],"tags":[],"puppies_section":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-4470","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-behavioralecon","8":"category-lifehacks","9":"post-hentry"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"I](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/i-voted-1.png\")
<\/p>\n2. Call them names<\/h3>\n
3. Address their commitment issues<\/h3>\n
![\"When](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/when-are-you-voting.png\")
<\/p>\n4. Promise you\u2019ll follow up<\/h3>\n
#GetOutTheVote<\/h3>\n