What’s in a name?

In the first few days since our launch, a few of our supporters have asked us about the name “UpVote Virginia,” so we wanted to take a moment and explain where it came from and how it applies to the work we’re doing.

In internet lingo, “UpVote” means to vote a post or a comment to the top of a discussion thread, bringing the most important issues front and center. 

So how does that apply to us? The most impactful and necessary changes to our democracy are often not the ones being talked about on the news, on the campaign trail, or at kitchen tables, which can mean that vital ideas get lost in the noise. We want to help raise the profile of these issues, to put them at the forefront of the conversation.

But beyond its literal definition, the word conveys an uplifting sense of forward movement and positivity – and, of course, the new name includes the word “vote.”

Whether we bring democracy issues to the forefront of public conversation, lifting the voices of our outstanding volunteers and advocates, or working to be a positive force for public engagement, the hope the name “UpVote Virginia” excites and motivates you the same way it does for us.