Social media campaigns fire up to improve voter turnout in the North Okanagan

HOW SOCIAL MEDIA IS BEING USED TO GET RESIDENTS OUT ON VOTING DAY

VERNON – Local groups and municipalities are hoping social media campaigns can help boost voter turnout this civic election.

The City of Vernon is encouraging voters to use the #ivotedvernon hashtag and to post selfies on Facebook and Twitter of themselves wearing ‘I Voted’ stickers. The stickers will be handed out at advance polls, and on general voting day, Nov. 15.

Meanwhile, the Enderby and District Chamber of Commerce is inviting citizens to change their Facebook and Twitter profiles to voting icons until Nov. 15. Icons like ‘Don’t be a silent taxpayer’ are available for download on the chamber’s website. Other suggestions are to insert an icon in your email signature, or print it out and display it in business windows or on vehicles. Voters are also encouraged to post selfies after casting their ballot.

“In the last election, almost 5200 eligible voters did not give themselves the chance to have a voice. That is significant,” Enderby chamber general manager Corinne Peard said.

The Armstrong-Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce is also using social media to engage voters. If you have a question for a prospective mayor or councillor, email it to manager@aschamber.com and the chamber will post it on Facebook and invite the candidate to answer it.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.