After many winners and judges, some more forgettable than others, American Idol has finally ended. In addition to allowing young singers to reach stardom, its final season also gave President Barack Obama a chance to appeal to the country to encourage voting.
The popular reality show contest does not have an age requirement for voting, and can be done from the comfort of one’s home over the phone or even texting. Fans can also vote for their favorite as many times as they want, and it’s all legal.
Obama still saw enough of a connection though as he noted in a pre-recorded tape:
He also saw the chance to push for easier voting tactics when he expressed “I believe it should be almost as easy as voting on American Idol, and we’re working on that.”
The president also noted that “when we choose not to vote, we surrender that right. We surrender our voice to someone else.” And, just like how Idol “reached historic heights” because Americans “participated in its success,” that means “the same is true of America. We reach our full potential when every American participates.”
As Entertainment Weekly reported, over 7 billion people voted during the show’s 15 seasons.
