Snapchat launches new voter registration-themed photo filter

The filter is supposed to encourage young people to register

The app is 10 million daily UK users (LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images)

Snapchat has launched a new themed camera filter to encourage young people to register to vote.

The so-called "geofilter" allows a person using the app to enhance of their pictures with pro-voting imagery, providing they are in the UK.

The mobile-based social network has over 10 million daily UK users, most of them young people.

Young people are much less likely to be registered to vote than older age groups, with 30 per cent of under 34s not on the register compared to just 4 per cent of those aged over 55.

Reasons for this disparity are thought to include include more young people being forced to rent and frequently move house than older people.

Craig Westwood, Director of Communications at the Electoral Commission said: "Anyone who is eligible to vote at the General Election should be able to take part. However, if you're not registered to vote by the deadline of 22 May, then you won't be able to have your say. We're urging anyone not yet registered to do so as soon as possible.

“Snapchat has a huge audience amongst young adults, a group we know are less likely to be registered to vote. By working with them we can get this important message across in a new way and help ensure fewer people lose the chance to cast their vote.”

The Commission trailed a similar geofilter to encourage young people to register to vote before the Scottish local elections 2017, which took place earlier this month.

Young people having dramatically different voting intentions to older people. Despite the Conservatives holding a huge lead over Labour overall, Labour is still thought to be solidly ahead of the Conservatives with voters under 40, according to a large sample YouGov poll conducted at the start of the campaign.

The filter is one of a number of creative initiatives being launched into order to increase registration and turnout amongst young people. Other programmes have offered free or discount tickets to attractions like Thorpe Park, or to concerts with Grime artists who endorse Jeremy Corbyn.

A poll conducted earlier this month for the Higher Education Policy Institute found that student voter registration was unusually high this year, with 78 per cent planning to vote compared to 69 per cent in 2015.