On Tuesday BLK, the largest dating and lifestyle app for Black Singles, announced the launch of their in-app Election Center, a digital hub designed to shift the culture of voting and politics in the Black community, amplify voices of Black voters and drive Black voter registration. The initiative was created in partnership with Michele Obama’s When We All Vote, a leading national, nonpartisan initiative with a goal to increase participation in each and every election by helping to close the race and age gap.
For the past 154 years, Black Americans have faced major disparities and inequalities in accessing the right to vote. As a result, Black Americans have been less informed and engaged in both local and national elections, political initiatives, and major legislation. BLK recently conducted a survey of its members to understand the voting habits, behaviors, and preferences of Black singles.
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Of the respondents, 80% of users are currently registered to vote.
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Of those not registered to vote, 42% plan to register before the midterm elections.
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However, this doesn’t impact dating, with 70% of users stating that they will date someone who intentionally chooses not to vote.
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When asked which political beliefs would be deal breakers for a potential partner, the top three responses are 1) Trump Supporter (38%), 2) Pro-Life (34%), 3) Anti-Universal Healthcare/Anti-LGBTQ (tied at 10%)
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Lastly, 52% of registered voters do NOT know the date of the 2022 Midterm Election.
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This number jumps to 66% for Gen Z (18-24) registered voters.
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Ahead of Black Voter Registration Day, the BLK Election Center will serve as a digital hub to empower Black singles to take action through voting – advocating for their rights and ensuring their voices are heard and amplified. Created in partnership with ‘When We All Vote,’ Michelle Obama’s national initiative to drive voter registrations throughout the United States, the Election Center takes users on a journey of engagement, education, and empowerment. Upon opening the app, users will be prompted to ‘Share Your Voice’ or ‘Shift the Culture’. When users select “Share Your Voice” they will be asked to choose policy issues of importance such as “gun violence,” “affordable housing” or “universal healthcare” which will then be displayed on their profile along with a When We All Vote sticker, allowing users to match with others that share the same concern over policy issues. Upon sharing feedback, users will then be encouraged to ‘Shift the Culture’ by registering to vote via the ‘ BLK x When We All Vote’ voter registration portal. Additional BLK Election Center features include:
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“When We All Vote” profile stickers
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Policy issues of most concerned added to user’s profile page
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Push notifications alerting BLK members of key dates (ex. National Black Voter Registration Day) and in key geographic locations
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In-App Ad Units
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Upcoming influencer and celebrity amplification
“Democracy can often feel out of reach and out of touch, but we know it doesn’t have to be that way. With BLK’s new Election Center, we are bringing the fight for our democracy and real change in our communities to Black voters in a way that is empowering and engaging,” said Stephanie L. Young, Executive Director of When We All Vote. “Together, we will change the culture around voting and ensure our communities’ voices are heard in the midterm elections and beyond.”
To register to vote or to check your voter registration status via BLK’s Election Center, please visit: https://weall.vote/blk
About BLK
A subsidiary of Match Group, BLK was introduced in August 2017 and is currently the leading dating and lifestyle app for Black singles. To help users find love at its core, with over 8 million downloads to date, BLK has built a community and space where Black love can happen every day in all its forms and expressions. BLK’s mission is simple: bring Black people together to spark meaningful connections.
When We All Vote, an initiative of Civic Nation, is a leading national, nonpartisan initiative on a mission to change the culture around voting and to increase participation in each and every election by helping to close the race and age gap. Created by Michelle Obama, When We All Vote brings together individuals, institutions, brands, and organizations to register new voters across the country and advance civic education for the entire family and voters of every age to build an informed and engaged electorate for today and generations to come. We empower our supporters and volunteers to take action through voting, advocating for their rights, and holding their elected officials accountable.
In 2020, When We All Vote ran a robust, multifaceted campaign and reached over 100 million people to educate them about the voting process and get them registered and ready to vote. The initiative also led in voter education, registration, and volunteer engagement and as a result, 512,000 people started or completed the voter registration process, and nearly 500 media, corporate, and nonprofit partners joined its efforts.
Michelle Obama launched When We All Vote in 2018 and is joined by fellow Co-Chairs Stephen Curry, Becky G, Selena Gomez, Tom Hanks, H.E.R., Liza Koshy, Jennifer Lopez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monae, Chris Paul, Megan Rapinoe, Shonda Rhimes, Bretman Rock, Kerry Washington and Rita Wilson.
When We All Vote is a key initiative within Civic Nation, a 501(c)(3) organization, and works with Civic Nation Action, a 501(c)(4). These organizations are homes for changemakers who inspire, educate, and activate people around the issues that will define this generation.
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