According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are a total of 2,886,267 coronavirus cases and 129,811 deaths in the US. In 45 states, cases of the coronavirus pandemic are spiking with no end in sight.
With 40,000-50,000 cases being reported daily in the country, the healthcare system continues to be overwhelmed. According to Dr. Anthony Fauci’s terrifying prediction, we could be looking at 100,000 daily cases if this trend isn’t controlled.
All of this points to an upcoming second shutdown. Due to the coronavirus, 2020 election campaigning has already shriveled to a minimum. If a second shutdown happens, the likelihood of campaigning for the 2020 election is likely to decline dramatically.
2020 is Already the Year of Internet Election Campaigning
With typical campaigning strategies out of the question, the internet is the only medium left. While that’s both a limitation and an incredible boon, it raises some questions. How will two candidates that are far removed from the digital age use the internet for their campaigns? Sure, they have PR teams and social media teams, but fighting an election online is unprecedented. There are no examples to point to and yet this is just the first of many elections to be fought online.
The Internet Automatically Categorizes People
Social media already categorizes people based on their age groups, gender, sexual orientation, and likes and dislikes. In a way, this can be a great opportunity for the candidates. It will allow their campaigns to focus on “persuadables”; those that don’t have a strong connection to any political party. Ostensibly, this means that their campaigns have a higher chance of generating a greater ROI.
Millions of Americans Don’t Have Internet Access
Yet, there are millions of Americans that still don’t have access to the internet. According to the FCC, 6 percent of the American population still lacks access to broadband services at “threshold speeds”. Then there are 10 percent of Americans that simply don’t use the internet.
According to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center, the majority of this group lives in rural communities. The majority are over 65, earn less than $30,000 a year, and don’t have a high school degree.
These citizens live in what are typically regarded as “flyover states”. Their vote can help districts, counties, and even entire states one way or another. As was evidenced by the 2016 election, maximum votes don’t mean much; votes in certain districts tip the election. Those votes can only be taken through hardcore campaigning, political voiceover for radio, or television commercials. The first of those isn’t feasible, but the other two are, making the importance of a skilled political voice actor all the more crucial.
Political campaigns can’t afford to disregard those millions of Americans that can’t or don’t have access to the internet. With an election as crucial as this one, it is imperative that the political parties strive to reach those voters.
COVID-19 has changed the world and changed the core issues we’re facing. This immediate threat to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is crushing the American dream. With a recession currently demolishing the economy and the vote split down the middle, it’s imperative to persuade the “persuadables”.
