With fewer than 100 days to go until the Mayor
of London and the London Assembly elections, City Hall was buzzing
today with a clear message: register to vote if you want to make
your mark on the next four years in London. Mark, an
eye-catching X-shaped figure, appeared outside City Hall to kick
start a London-wide campaign to encourage the London electorate to
register to vote in the 1 May
elections.
It is estimated that up to 1 in 5 Londoners*,
across all 33 boroughs, may not be registered to vote. These
include people who have moved house or are living in private rented
accommodation, students, young people, and citizens of EU and
Commonwealth countries.
The multi-media campaign, led by London
Elects and the Electoral Commission, will raise awareness of the
need to be registered by 16 April. Over the next two months,
the X-shaped Mark will turn up at events across London, to share
the message that Londoners can register easily and quickly – you
can find out if you are registered to vote by contacting your
borough council or download a registration form from www.londonelects.org.uk
Mark’s message is being supported by a
whole series of eye-catching TV, radio, outdoor and print
advertising, and face-to-face marketing activity across London.
Matt Bright, Communications Manager, London
Elects, said: “Shouldering a big X, and with nothing but a lycra
body suit to keep out the cold, Mark’s braving the January weather
to say nothing’s stopping us from expressing our choice in the 2008
elections. We want all London residents to look out for
Mark in their high streets, at their community events, and across
the capital, and pass on the word: register if you want to
vote.”
Nina Ziaullah, Head of Campaigns and Public Information,
Electoral Commission, said: "Voting is your chance to have your say
on the things that matter to you in your city. Don't let anything
stop you voting – if you want to vote, you need to be registered
first. That's the message of this campaign: Londoners need to
register, it's quick and easy to do, and then you're all set to
make your Mark on London."
-ENDS-
For more information please contact Natalie Tesoriero or Tony
Lederer at Grayling: Natalie.tesoriero@uk.grayling.com
/ Tony.lederer@uk.grayling.com
/ 020 7255 1100
Notes to Editors:
1. Londoners can find full information on
voter registration online at http://www.londonelects.co.uk/,
or by contacting their local borough council
2. *Electoral Commission research
Understanding Electoral Registration, September 2005
http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/files/dms/Undreg-FINAL_18366-13545__E__N__S__W__.pdf
3. The target audience for the campaign is all
non-registered but eligible Londoners including the following
groups – recent home movers; private
renters; students; 17-34 year
olds (17 year olds may register so they are ready to vote from the
day they turn 18); citizens of the “new” EU
countries
4. London Elects is the independent body
responsible for organising and publicising the elections for the
Mayor of London and the London Assembly on 1 May 2008.
Its role is to create awareness and
understanding of registration and the voting process and encourage
action. For more information please contact
Emma Cassidy in the London Elects press office on 020 7983 4447 or
emma.cassidy@london.gov.uk
5. The Electoral Commission is an independent
body set up by the UK Parliament. Our aim is integrity and public
confidence in the democratic process. We set the standards for
running elections and report on how well this is done. We also make
sure people understand it is important to register to vote, and
know how to vote. Our other roles include registering political
parties, making sure people understand and follow the rules on
party and election finance and publishing details of where parties
and candidates get money from and how they spend it. For more
information please contact Sarah Garrett on 020 7271 0531 or
press@electoralcommision.org.uk