As the build up for the next general election gathers pace, we constantly hear references to this being the UK’s first “digital election”. Back in 2005 Facebook was barely a year old, YouTube only 2 months old and Twitter did not exist at all!
BBC News reports that over the weekend Facebook is to ask its 23 million UK users whether they have registered to vote in a tie-up with the Electoral Commission.
Registering online still isn’t possible but users will be able to print out and sign a form before sending it to their local electoral registration office.
The Electoral Commission is hoping that using the largest social networking site will help boost student vote on 6th May.
On the same topic, earlier today I also came across an article on the EConsultancy blog which analyses the party leaders’ online presence which particular attention to their websites. It is rather disappointing to see that Brown, Cameron and Clegg are no Obama and their approach fails to capture the imagination of the online generation.
I think the media have been getting it slightly wrong when focusing only on the role of technology as an electoral tool to engage with voters. With the major political parties still failing to deliver on the online front, I think this election will be made “digital” by the voters through social media, blogging and their creativity.