Australia using Facebook to attract young voters to register

CANBERRA, Australia, June 24 (UPI) —

Government officials in Australia say they’re cooperating with Facebook in starting an online voter enrollment program aimed at young people.

The Australian Electoral Commission says the first-ever online enrollment system is aimed at tablet and mobile users, with an enrollment app on Facebook that will help voters link back to the commission’s registration site.

With just three months remaining before a September federal election, the commission found almost half a million people between age 18 and 24 are not registered to vote, China’s Xinhua News Agency reported Monday.

An additional 900,000 people over age 24 are also not registered, officials said.

This enrollment project marks the first time voters will be able to join the electoral roll using the Internet.