NUS launches social media voting campaign

The National Union of Students (NUS) and the Electoral Commission have teamed up with other organisations to launch a social media campaign to boost student voting registration.

#RegAFriend launched on March 19. The campaign urges students who have already registered to vote to encourage their non-registered friends and family to do the same by sharing messages and photos on social media.

Once a person has successfully encouraged their friend to register, they can take a photo of themselves making a ‘voter cross’ with that friend, before sharing the photo on Facebook or Twitter. This would be along with a message saying that they have encouraged a friend to register.

The ‘Register a Friend’ initiative is supported by a range of other organisations such as the Association of Colleges, British Youth Council, London Youth, The Scout Association, Girlguiding, YMCA and the National Association of College & University Entrepreneurs.

Bethan Jackson-Jones, a second-year English literature student, said she would definitely participate in the campaign: “I will do anything I can to get people to vote.

“I think it is so important that you exercise your right to vote, and the way that a lot of people are influenced now is through social media, so it is probably the best way!

“I am planning on writing a status before April 20 to encourage people to register. I do believe that any way we can persuade people is worth it.”

Electoral Commission research indicates that around 30 per cent of 18 – 24 year olds are not registered to vote compared to less than five per cent of those aged over 65.

Howard Smith, a second-year History undergraduate said: “Young people’s political opinion is so important, it is worrying that it is so unrepresented.

“I am sure that registering is partly to blame, in our busy lives of work and education, it just seems like something else to do. #RegAFriend seems to be the answer, at least for those of us that use social media.

“With merely 39 per cent of people ages 18 – 24 voting, anything that can help young people to have their say about the future of the country we live in is surely a good thing.”

A separate Facebook advertising campaign was also launched in February by the Electoral Commission, encouraging 18 year olds to ‘use their age wisely’ and seize the opportunity to take part in their first General Election.

In addition, mobile advertising is being used for the first time by the Electoral Commission to directly encourage students. Tens of thousands of students with mobile phones on the EE, O2 and Vodafone networks will receive SMS or MMS messages.

Michael Abbot, head of campaigns at the Electoral Commission said: “Too many young people are still not registered to vote to have their say on May 7. Over half also don’t know they can register to vote online.

“But plenty of young people are passionate about voting and this campaign aims to use the power of social networks to help them spread the word about the importance and ease of registering.”

Toni Pearce, NUS president added: “I’m incredibly excited about this new initiative and I can’t wait to see students getting involved with the campaign and getting more young people registered to vote.”