Political squabbles around the family table seem a long way off. On the eve of theAmerican electionthe younger generation is claiming TikTok an unexpected mission: to “cancel out” the vote of their loved ones. In often humorous videos, young Americans film themselves voting to “counterbalance” the choices of their parents, partners or friends.
Counterbalancing opposing choices
“Undoing” a vote is an image: voting for one candidate doesn’t erase the vote of another. In this election, where every vote counts, young people vote with the intention of counterbalancing opposing choices. And to encourage their peers to vote.
Unlike France, where voting takes place on a single day, the American system allows advance voting over several days. Millions of voters have already cast their ballots. The BBC points out that “the early polls drew the lines and more than 62.7 million voters cast their ballots on Thursday, a historic figure”.
America divided…
This trend highlights a deeply divided America. According to one study by the University of Illinoisnearly 30% of Americans are in a relationship with someone who holds opposing political views, indicating that the “vote nullification” trend touches on something broader and more complex in American society. This was also discovered by user@thejennrobbinswho posted a tearful video after learning that her husband would not vote for Trump.
…But able to live together
But divided doesn’t mean irreconcilable. Opposing views can coexist, say some young voters, like McKenzie Owens, 19, who testifies on NBC News “that different opinions don’t preclude coexistence, even if politics can also be divisive these days”.
In this spirit, many TikTok users show that their friendships and relationships can withstand political differences: “On our way to cancel each other’s votes, but we can stay friends regardless,” writes@ben.beachy on TikTok.