A U.S. weekly newsmagazine TIME changed its cover logo on November 3, 2020, one day before the U.S. presidential election. The new logo said ‘VOTE’ and placed ‘Time’ the magazine on the right side. It was an historical move because TIME changed its logo 97 years since its first publication. The cover features a woman who wraps a scarf round her face. It symbolizes this year’s difficult situation for voters in the midst of COVID-19. Edward Felsenthal, editor-in-chief editor, said that the change of logo highlighted the importance of voting. He wanted to encourage people to vote, arguing "the result of the U.S. presidential election is an event that influences the world, now we have a very rare opportunity to leave the past behind and move into the future." Let's check whether TIME’s message encouraged people to vote.
‘Not only TIME, but also other companies as well as celebrities encouraged participation in the 2020 U.S. presidential election through product, advertising, and comment. For example, the character of a black youth, Joe Biden, appeared in the popular console game Nintendo's game 'Animal Crossing,' Michelle Obama's necklace was decorated with the word ‘vote’. The candidate's message featured on many products; pictures helped spread the message, encouraging people to vote, uniting supporters, and raising money for election funds. Celebrities indicate their political inclination and cheer the candidate they support. But lots of celebrity support does not necessarily translate into an election result wanted. During the 2016 U.S presidential election, Hillary Clinton received many celebrities’ support, like Beyoncé; however, she lost. In this regard, experts said that assessing the celebrity effect is tricky. The 2020 U.S. presidential election's public opinion and celebrity's endorsement were influenced by the behavior of Donald Trump, the 45th president in U.S.
Donald Trump was elected in the 2016. In the 2016 U.S. presidential race, he was behind Hillary Clinton in public opinion surveys. He was the focus of controversy about sexual molestation, dirty jokes and other behaviors unbefitting a presidential candidate. So, his election was a big surprise around the world. This controversy continued while in office. He made discriminatory comment about people of color and handled unsatisfactory the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite being the nation’s president, he was called disgraceful nicknames like 'racist', 'sexist', 'incompetent politician' during his term of office. People who saw his behavior raised critical voices regarding the potential reelection of Donald Trump. The Democratic Party presidential candidate's supporters criticized Donald Trump and claimed Biden will work to return equality, diversity, and respect to America. Meanwhile, 'Trumpism', an ideology displaying extreme support for Donald Trump, emerged. The president’s supporters criticized Biden, gossiping about his family, concerning doubt about cover-up prosecution investigation, drug, and adultery about him son, Hunter Biden. As election approached, public opinion survey's recorded divisiveness in people's mind and worries about riots. Four out of 10 voters said they would not accept the election of the rival candidate. Voter's division, overheated atmosphere, Donald Trump's insubordination announcement heightened uneasiness. Ahead of the U.S. presidential election, establishment of election command centers were set up and stored were boarded for protection, the country was prepared for riots. The world’s broadcast media concentrated their coverage on U.S., reporting the situation in real time. Why the U.S. presidential election of interest all over the world?
Because the U.S. presidential election result affect to economy of every country. International press analyzed at length. Western European countries mostly did not like the possibility of Donald Trump's reelection. He worried many politicians and cause an international confusion by withdrawing unilaterally from the Paris Climate Agreement, the Iranian nuclear agreement and the World Health Organization. Many nations’ position was expressed publicly. During the U.S ballot counting broadcast, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, German Minister of Defense, said "the relationship between the United States and Germany for the past four years was difficult". Also, she claimed European countries should be conducting their policies more independently regardless of the U.S. presidential election result. The UK’s opinion was divided between citizen and politicians. Politicians wanted Donald Trump reelected because their could deal with him directly in the context of Brexit. But citizen generally supported Biden. So, the UK wanted a soft cooperation relationship regardless of results. South Korea closely observed the progress of the U.S. presidential election through special broadcast, diplomacy relationship research, etc., because the result will influence the Korean-American alliance and the Korean-China alliance.
The U.S. presidential election was all over the world. The Democratic Party presidential candidate, Biden, was elected the 46th U.S. president. Early voting gave him a big boost. The New York Times’ presidential election editorial quoted Martin Luther King Jr: "Only in the darkness can you see the stars" suggesting the Dark Age that placed a shadow on democracy is now over. In the COVID-19 context, massive early voting appeared was a new phenomenon for the American democracy, a positive situation. Voting is the basis of democracy, it is a right, the expression of public opinion, and the way we claim our position to society. Promises not kept, feeling one doesn’t benefit from policies disconnect us from our vote; it may damage us. A candidate who wants to be elected tends to promise policies to generate a high turnout. We should express opinion and bring to book politicians by our citizen’s voice through vote.
