Unlock Democracy: Vote Match launches internet advertising campaign to encourage voter turnout

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Monday, 14, Apr 2008 12:00

Unlock Democracy is launching an internet advertising campaign today for its Vote Match London project.

An estimated 15,000 people will have used the website by the end of the weekend. It has garnered positive reviews from community organisations, journalists and bloggers. This has encouraged Unlock Democracy to step up its promotional campaign to encourage as many Londoners as possible to use the tool

Director of Unlock Democracy Peter Facey said:

"Where Vote Match has been used in the Netherlands and Germany it has been shown that it can drive up voter turnout by helping to inform people who feel they don't know enough about politics. The positive feedback we have received from across London and the political spectrum has convinced us Vote Match London can have the same effect here.

"The polling evidence out there suggests that the election for London Mayor could be extremely close. Every vote cast could make a difference. We are therefore making this extra push to ensure that as many voters have access to Vote Match as possible."

Unlock Democracy is also sending out thousands of posters to schools, libraries and community groups to help promote Vote Match and attempting to get the public to help spread the message.

"We are aiming to get a quarter of a million Vote Match users by 1st May. In the Netherlands, Vote Match was used by 1-in-3 voters in the last Parliamentary election, so this is a realistic figure. To achieve it however, we will need the public'shelp in promoting it if we are to achieve this."

To take the Vote Match quiz and to find out how you can help promote it, visit www.votematch.co.uk/.

ENDS

1. More background information about Vote Match can be found at www.votematch.co.uk/about/.

2. Unlock Democracy, incorporating Charter 88, is the UK's leading campaign for democratic renewal and active engagement in the political process. A cross-party organisation, it is not affiliated to any political party and does not endorse any candidate in the London elections.

3. For more information, a quote or an interview, please contact James Graham on 020 7278 4443 / 07966 237550 / james.graham@unlockdemocracy.org.uk.