The midterm elections are approaching. Millions of people are registering to vote while others are encouraging people to vote in one of the biggest elections in modern times. From celebrity endorsements to politically-influenced advertisements, the November elections for representatives have made their way into every form of media. And now, Taylor Swift is throwing her hat into the ring.

In a lengthy Instagram post on Oct. 7, Swift expressed her support for Democratic candidates in Tennessee.

“In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now,” Swift said. “I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country. I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG. I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country toward people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent.”

Swift’s heartfelt message highlights incredibly crucial issues in this election. Encouraging her large fan base to vote in this election is a great way to increase the amount of people who voice their opinions on how the government should operate, while also bringing awareness to the systematic oppression of minorities.

In addition, she denounces Republican candidate Marsha Blackburn in a way that highlights the importance of women’s issues in the campaign, while urging her fans to research candidates opinions before voting.

“As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn. Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me. She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking and date rape…These are not MY Tennessee values.”

Despite the overarching message Swift sends to her fans, there are some issues I have with her statement. The greatest issue I have with it is the timing. How come it took two years for Swift to realize politics are an important part of bringing about change in the world? Why did it take her so long to be convinced that the world needed change, and that voting was a way to bring about that change? Where was Swift two years ago, when the presidential election demonstrated the same kind of political and social turmoil as it does in this election, if not more? Part of me believes that she may have become aware of the importance of politics after her rival Kanye West endorsed Donald Trump, but that’s an argument for another time.

Although it may sound like I am criticizing Swift for her timing on voicing her political opinions, I am thankful she decided to do so anyway. Encouraging people to vote is one of the best ways she could have used her large platform to call attention to today’s issues such as, LGBTQ+ rights, the Black Lives Matter movement, women’s rights and more. Her message was meaningful and heartfelt, and reached millions of people in a simple way. It’s better late than never.