Brussels (Brussels Morning) – Youth volunteers, pan-European civil society organizations, and global companies have joined hands with the #UseYourVote drive for the 6-9 June European elections.
In an effort to raise awareness about the importance of the elections and encourage citizens across the Union to vote, leading figures from across Europe’s business, cultural, and nonprofit communities have joined forces with the campaign.
Who are the key partners in the #UseYourVote campaign?
More than 500 pan-European umbrella associations and many others at the national level have publicised the #UseYourVote campaign via their networks, with their drives or on their social media channels.Â
How are civil society organizations promoting electoral participation?
Save The Children’s “I Count, I Vote” campaign contains a LinkedIn video and visual aids to encourage voting. The European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA) cast their “TALE – Take the Lead in the EU Elections” campaign, to promote electoral participation. The European Council on Refugees and Exiles projected the #EUisU + Vote EP 24 campaign, featuring a song and motivational tapes of citizens urging people to vote.Â
What initiatives are targeting first-time voters across Europe?
Democracy International’s “eurVote eurFuture” project in ten nations is an effort to raise awareness about the EUParliament elections via occasions, informative leaflets, “I’m voting” stickers, and how-to-vote videos sought at first-time voters. Inclusion Europe put forward a movement for the voting rights of people with academic disabilities, sharing content on Instagram and promoting participation.
How are young volunteers engaging voters in various EU countries?
In the context of the EU Parliament’s together.eu community, a mixed host of election-related activities have been arranged by young volunteers across the EU, like dancing groups, tree planting, spring cleaning, pub quizzes, discussions, lectures, music festivals and other types of events.
In Germany, a basketball tournament was scheduled for more than 100 participants. In Spain, youth activist Pol Villaverde made Palumbo, a pan-European mobile app to enable people to find out which group or candidate to vote for. In Portugal, community activists managed surfing events for individuals with disabilities and creative collaborations with local sports clubs. In Ireland, Daniel Long, a farmer, joined other recruits to run many election affairs in rural Ireland and at universities.
European success stories like music streaming medium Spotify and Swedish food manufacturer Oatly are pressing their customers to vote and advising them about the elections on their platforms. As part of their #AllHandsForDemocracy campaign, Universal Music Group is offering concert-goers an election-related symbol on their hand to remind them to vote.
How are cultural events and festivals supporting the #UseYourVote campaign?
A total of 898 cinemas across the Union have vowed to offer the EU’s #UseYourVote campaign video before screenings, and film festivals in France, Bulgaria, Germany, and The Netherlands inspired festivalgoers and film industry experts to use their vote by displaying flags and e-posters, sending newsletters, and publishing on their social media channels.
