Chloe Smith MP to call on Parliament to recognise the importance of National Voter Registration Day

As part of her ongoing work to engage young people in politics and democracy, Chloe Smith MP will officially call on Parliament to recognise the importance of National Voter Registration Day by sponsoring Early Day Motion 678.

 

The Motion calls on Parliament to do more to raise awareness of the need to register on the electoral roll. This is in response to troubling estimates that tens of thousands of young people may not be eligible to vote in the upcoming general election.

 

Chloe is the secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Voter Registration.  She works with Bite the Ballot and other groups to raise awareness of the dangers of young voters being disproportionately under-represented at local and national elections.

 

She was elected at the age of 27, making her the youngest MP, and she started her political life as a 16 year old in West Norfolk trying to form a Norfolk youth forum.

 

National Voter Registration Day aims to register 250,000 new voters in a day of co-ordinated action across schools, colleges, universities and youth groups, on 5^th February.

 

Chloe is planning work with City College Norwich Students’ Union to run the day itself in Norwich.

 

Chloe commented:

 

“Young people have every chance to register to vote, and to vote.  We all have an opinion on how our community and our country should be, and voting is the way to make a difference.  On 5^th February, do your bit and get yourself and your friends registered to vote.

 

“I’m asking my colleagues in Parliament to officially recognise the importance of National Voter Registration Day in ensuring that thousands of young people have a say in securing the future they want.

 

“If you are unsure about how to register, please visit the Bite the Ballot website or get in touch with me on Facebook or Twitter.”