Vote with Friends NZ Seeks to Lift Turnout

A new non-partisan Facebook application, Vote With Friends NZ, has been launched today.

"We're taking the election to where the voters are, and increasingly, that's on Facebook," Richard Leckinger said.

"There is nothing more powerful than a request from a friend. We're encouraging people to pledge to vote next week, and then ask their friends to do the same."

A trust is being formed to manage the application and to ensure that it remains non-partisan and users' privacy is protected. The application was first developed for the 2012 US election and has been adapted for New Zealand by John Hart, Michael Howden of AidIQ and Richard Leckinger.

"Over 50 percent of New Zealanders use Facebook, and this demographic is strikingly similar to those who don't vote," Mr Leckinger said.

“Research suggests that easy access to information and informal discussion of the issues both increase the chances that someone will vote. The application provides opportunities for both.

"Vote With Friends NZ isn't a silver bullet, but if it gets friends talking about the election it is more likely they will vote.

“We encourage candidates of all political affiliations to use the application to reach out to voters as well.

"We will look at the results, talk to the users and see what worked and what did not in anticipation of the 2014 general election.

"Friends don't let friends miss the vote," Mr Leckinger said.

The application:

https://apps.facebook.com/votewithfriendsnz

The application's Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/votewithfriendsnz

ENDS

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