#DeDay marks final push for registering to vote

Wednesday 15 April is #DeDay, marking the final push to get young people aged 16-24 registered to vote by 20 April ahead of the General and Local Elections on 7 May.

#DeDay – short for Democracy Day – has been organised by Bite the Ballot, the national campaign encouraging more young people to vote.

In Nottingham, Bite the Ballot has teamed up with GameCity to run a unique voter registration drive, playing host to ‘Verto’, an innovative online voter advice tool.

Potential voters are invited to come and enjoy a ‘Voter Advice Studio’, situated in the lobby space of the new National Video Game Arcade at 24-32 Carlton Street, Hockley from 11am to 3pm on Wednesday 15 April.

A team of Bite The Ballot staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and to register young voters, whilst the DeCafe space will provide a relaxed area for people to find out who best represents their views by playing ‘Verto’. And, once they’ve registered, guests can take their #RegAFriend selfie in the Photo Booth!

To register, people will need their have their National Insurance number handy.

Rachel Armitage, Community Engagement Officer for Bite The Ballot in Nottingham, a post funded by the City Council, said: “It is vitally important that young people register to vote before the deadline on April 20th. How can we expect politicians to consider our views if we don’t make them heard? That’s why I am really excited to be hosting this ‘DeDay’ event with GameCity, so that young potential voters in Nottingham can realise their power and find their voice.”

‘DeDay’ at the National Video Game Arcade (24-32 Carlton Street, Nottingham, NG1 1NN), Wednesday 15^th April between 11am and 3pm. Participants must bring their National Insurance number. Over 18s can face an £80 fine if they do not register.

Iain Simons, co-director of GameCity and The National Videogame Arcade says “We are delighted to be able to host DeDay in the Lobby at the NVA  next week and want to encourage young people to come and talk to the team at Bite the Ballot in this informal environment.”