Council calls on Twitter to boost turnout
By politics.co.uk staff
As local councils across the country worry about what could be record-low turnouts in tomorrow’s elections, Cambridgeshire’s elected representatives are aiming to do something about it.
According to a report in the Cambridge News, the county is trying to boost attendance at polling stations by utilising new technologies and advertising the election in public spaces.
Digital signs at the entrances to five of Cambridge’s park and ride sites will display the message: “Do something amazing – vote on June 4 in the local elections”. The message will be repeated on televisions throughout park and ride buildings as well.
As part of the council’s Do Something Amazing campaign residents can also get updates on Facebook and Twitter about the elections. They’re even set-up a texting service whereby residents can text the word “election” to 81025 and receive free reminders and texts with information about the election to their phone.
“The park and ride signs are very visible for both the users of the service and people walking, cycling and driving past as they are on the main artery routes into Cambridge,” the council’s chief executive Mark Lloyd told the News:
“This is the first election since 1993 which hasn’t coincided with a general election, so it is more important than ever for us to raise awareness, and finding innovative ways of doing that.”
General disillusionment as a result of the MPs’ expenses scandal has led to predictions of very low turnouts in tomorrow’s election leading to fears this could result in a successful campaign for extremist parties.
