WIREDGOV

With exactly one week to go until the electoral registration deadline, Snapchat and the Electoral Commission have joined forces in a campaign to remind voters across Scotland to register to vote in the council elections on 4 May.

For the first time in the UK, Snapchat has created a unique voter registration filter, launched yesterday, which reminds users in Scotland to register before Monday 17 April. The filter will be in place for the week leading up to the deadline.

The elections in May will be the first Scotland-wide set of council elections that 16 and 17 year olds are eligible vote in. However, they need to be registered first. Electoral Commission research shows that young people are typically less likely to be registered than older voters, with only 69% of 18-34 year olds correctly registered in Great Britain compared to 96% of those aged 65 and over.

Snapchat is one of the most widely used social media platforms among young people and more than 10 million people use Snapchat daily in the UK.

Andy O’Neill, Head of the Electoral Commission in Scotland, said:

“Working with Snapchat gives us a fantastic opportunity to reach a typically under-registered audience and let young people in Scotland know that they can use their voice in these elections. However, they need to be registered by 17 April. It only takes a few minutes to register at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.”

The Electoral Commission continues to work in partnership with Facebook, which placed a registration reminder in the newsfeeds of users in Great Britain over the weekend. The Commission is also working with the new social network Nextdoor to remind its users to register before the deadline.

For further information contact:
Lisa Camps in the Electoral Commission press office on 020 7271 0704 or lcamps@electoralcommission.org.uk. 
Out of office hours 07789 920 414

Notes to editors

1. The Electoral Commission is the independent body which oversees elections and regulates political finance in the UK. We work to promote public confidence in the democratic process and ensure its integrity by:

• enabling the delivery of free and fair elections and referendums, focussing on the needs of electors and addressing the changing environment to ensure every vote remains secure and accessible
• regulating political finance – taking proactive steps to increase transparency, ensure compliance and pursue breaches
• using our expertise to make and advocate for changes to our democracy, aiming to improve fairness, transparency and efficiency

The Commission was set up in 2000 and reports to the UK and Scottish Parliaments.

2. Snapchat geofilters are art overlays placed on Snaps (photos taken by users in the app) that appear in specific locations like cities, neighbourhoods and landmarks. They are created by Snapchat, members of the Snapchat community, and brands.