Show of support – #votingmatters
# V O T I N G M A T T E R S – S H O W O F S U P P O R T
Emma Thompson adds her support. Because #votingmatters
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#votingmatters is a new campaign from #Emilymatters. which champions gender equality and encourages young women to vote, ensuring that legacies such as suffragette Emily Davison’s are not forgotten.
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Dr Helen Pankhurst, great granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst, with daughter Laura & the Olympic suffragettes say #votingmatters on Emily Davison’s birthday everyday!
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At the last general election only 39% of young women aged 18-24 voted, whilst just 20% of BAME young women used their right to vote.
Having seen first hand the success of the Scottish Independence Referendum in getting just about everyone to talk about politics, register and vote it’s clear that the usual low voter turnout doesn’t have to continue. And Scotland leads the way on this.
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#votingmatters to 21st century suffragettes at the 2014 Emily Tree pic nic
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#Emilymatters ran a successful social media campaign as part of the May 2014 elections, which #votingmatters now builds on.
The first part of this campaign is to collect photos, clips, poems and thoughts about whether #votingmatters to you.
In the run up to International Day of the Girl on 11th October, which is also Emily Davison’s birthday, we shared all things #votingmatters on social media.
I don’t really care … I’m not really interested in it. I think it’s very boring.
– Lauren, Glasgow
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In addition, we ran ‘Dear Lauren‘ – your words of encouragement to young women like Lauren, who unless things radically change, are unlikely to register and vote in 2015.
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Hear Lauren’s story in her own words.
The campaign first began at the Scottish Independence Referendum and there has been a terrific response.
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#votingmatters to the Emily Tree 21st century suffragettes
Thanks to everyone who got involved with our first #DearLauren campaign to celebrate Emily Davison’s birthday on 11th October. We received fantastic messages to a first time voter from all over the UK and beyond, as well as #votingmatters pictures, which we will continue to archive and share.
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We’re on:
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We are busy working on the next stage of our social media campaign, so get creative and tell us your thoughts on whether #votingmatters to you.
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#votingmatters – at the Scottish Referendum
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Building on the success of the #Emilymatters House of Commons event and May elections 2014 social media campaign what you tell us will form part of an ongoing #votingmatters digital archive to inspire and motivate young women to vote in the future.
We need volunteers to help us make an even bigger impact, so if you’re passionate about getting more young women to vote, please do get in touch.
There’s no time to lose!
Kate Willoughby
Actor & Writer of Emily Wilding Davison play To Freedom’s Cause
Emily Davison’s legacy is for life, not just for 2013.
