The Electoral Commission is using Facebook to reach eligible young voters and encourage them to sign up and get registered for this year’s forthcoming General Election.
Great news. A perfect example of a compatible communication tool being used effectively to reach a target audience.
My son turned 18 in August 2009. The only communication he received from any politicial party was an 18th birthday card from David Cameron. Nice touch but total waste of money – the card said nothing of significance and wasn’t followed up with any other communication. And there has been a total lack of non-activity by all other parties.
It is refreshing to see the Electoral Commission entering the very relevant world of Facebook to start to talk to the 18-plus age group.
It’s fair to say that only those teenagers with an interest in politics through education, family or peer influence, are those likely to be looking forward to May 6th and their first chance to vote.
That means there will be literally thousands who have so far felt totally disengaged by the whole political scene and won’t be venturing to their nearest polling station.
What a missed PR opportunity. The young voter has so much potential, and is arguably ripe for influencing! A great target for any party.
With the growth of social media I’m certain the next General Election campaign will be much more online and much more in tune with the younger audience – a birthday card through the post will be replaced by a Happy Birthday Tweet!
In the meantime, the Electoral Commission has made a start, thank goodness.
And just in case we think all teenagers have their head in the clouds (not my son, that birthday card obviously had some impact!), read this piece from the Independent – very enlightening.
Dawn Strange
Accounts Director
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