Dovote

Dovote is a neologism used in political discourse as both a verb and, less commonly, a noun. It denotes the act of casting a vote and, more broadly, emphasizes participation in elections. In practice, dovote often appears in advocacy contexts and online campaigns aimed at increasing turnout rather than promoting specific policy positions.

Etymology and usage context

The term blends do and vote to convey action and participation. It does not have a formal dictionary entry and varies in spelling and usage. Dovote is sometimes presented as a playful or shorthand alternative to the established phrase get out the vote (GOTV).

Typical usage

As a verb, a sentence might read: "We need to dovote in the upcoming election." The term is generally informal and may appear in slogans or social media posts. As a noun, it can refer to a dovote campaign or message promoting turnout, though this usage is relatively rare and often context-dependent.

Relation to broader concepts

Dovote intersects with broader efforts to encourage civic participation and voter turnout. It overlaps with GOTV initiatives but tends to be less formal and more contemporary or colloquial in character. Critics view overly performative dovote messaging as potentially shallow if not accompanied by substantive civic engagement, while supporters see it as a concise cue to participate in the democratic process.

See also

Get-out-the-vote, turnout, suffrage, civic engagement.