You can now register to vote through Snapchat, and here's how
The 2018 midterm elections are right around the corner—which means that the deadline for voter registration is also upon us. For many first-time voters, registering to vote can seem confusing, difficult, or even just inconvenient. But luckily, in the age of the internet, there are ways to make this process a whole lot easier. This year, you can even register to vote on Snapchat.
Yesterday, September 25th, Snapchat celebrated Voter Registration Day by connecting its users to a voter registration nonprofit called TurboVote. In a news release, the company noted that users who are at least 18 years old will now have access to a link in their profiles that allows them to register.
Snapchat's voter registration initiative might actually reach new voters https://t.co/5WhRtGSgVF pic.twitter.com/y7NXRnbnmY
— Mashable (@mashable) September 25, 2018
So, how can you use Snapchat’s new feature?
If you’re eligible to vote in the U.S., you’ll see a yellow dot next to your profile icon when you open the Snapchat app. Click on your icon to go to your profile, and you’ll find a banner asking you to register to vote. Simply click on the banner, and Snapchat will redirect you to the mobile website for TurboVote, where you can complete your registration. According to Democracy Works, which created TurboVote and partnered with Snapchat for the new in-app feature, TurboVote will also remind users of upcoming elections, registration deadlines, and polling locations.
Snapchat has also added special filters so you can share that you voted and encourage your friends to do the same. And Bustle reports that certain content from Discover Partners like The Washington Post, NowThis, Mic, Vice, and Refinery29 will allow users to swipe up to access TurboVote as well.
According to a report from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, only 19.9% of the nations 18 to 29-year-olds voted in the most recent midterm elections in 2014. With such low voter turnout among young people, initiatives like Snapchat’s partnership with TurboVote are incredibly important. And Snapchat isn’t the only app working to encourage people to vote; in August, Lyft announced that it would provide discounted rides to the polls on voting day.
Regardless of your political leanings, voting is the best way to bring about change and make your voice heard. So don’t forget to register, and be sure to cast your votes in the November 6th midterms.
