If I'm perusing a dating app and someone mentions being apolitical, or not caring about politics, I grimace. Being apolitical? In this (ravaged) economy (and global pandemic and time of social unrest)?
I'm not alone in this, according to data found by OkCupid. Over 500,000 users said they couldn't date someone who didn't vote, according to new data provided by the dating app. Those who say they're registered voters are 63 percent more likely to get a match — and 85 percent more likely to receive a message.
Given that its user base cares about the upcoming election, OkCupid is launching the Voter 2020 badge to millions of users across the country. Here's how it'll work: The app will ask users the new matching question, "Are you registered to vote in the 2020 election?" Those who answer yes will see the badge automatically added to their profile.
What about if users answer no? In a partnership with When We All Vote (WWAV) — a non-profit dedicated to increasing voter participation, co-chaired by Michelle Obama, Tom Hanks, and other A-listers — a page from OkCupid and WWAV will pop-up so the user can register.
"Now more than ever, daters want to connect with people who share their values," said Ariel Charytan, CEO at OkCupid in a press statement. "We have always empowered people to match on what matters to them, and our millions of daters across the United States overwhelmingly prioritize civic engagement when it comes to finding someone they are compatible with. So this year, we are thrilled to announce our first-ever Voter 2020 badge, which will allow people to connect over their shared passion for exercising their right to vote."
It's not just being involved in politics that matters — it's the politics themselves that can be dealbreakers. Seventy-six percent of respondents said that a potential match's political leaning is very important, according to OkCupid's Voter 2020 Report.
The majority of OKC users surveyed lean left: 73 percent of women and 57 percent of men. Coronavirus is at least one reason for this, with 2.4 times more people saying the pandemic has made them more liberal in a question answered by 250,000 people about how coronavirus has impacted them.
This is far from the first time OkCupid has gotten involved in social issues; earlier this year, they introduced a Black Lives Matter badge and opened up its pronoun feature to all users. In 2020, being apolitical is not only irresponsible but it's a turnoff — and OkCupid users just proved that.
