New Channel 4 app highlights the power of non-voters

5 May 2015

 

Channel 4 has today launched a ‘Power App’ as part of its ‘X’ campaign to encourage young people to vote in this year’s General Election. In 2010, 15.9m of the British electorate failed to vote. Only 4 in 10 of under-25s turned out to vote. By simply typing in your postcode, this new app will tell you exactly what the margin was in your area and how many non-voters there were at the 2010 General Election.

The Government of the last five years was formed with a combined 17.56m votes, just 1.6m more than the number who failed to visit the ballot box. With many commentators predicting a hung parliament an increase in turn out could well hold the keys to Number 10. In 2010, the number of non-voters outnumbered the number of votes cast in a significant number of the UK’s 650 parliamentary constituencies.

Users of the app can learn that:

• The Prime Minister had a majority of 22,740 in his constituency and nearly 21,000 of its adult population did not vote
• East Ham has a huge majority of almost 28,000, but an even bigger 40,000 failed to vote there
• Manchester Central had the highest number of non-voters in 2010 totalling more than 50,000

The ‘Power App’ explains visually to first-time voters and to 2010’s non-voters just how much power they actually hold in this election. The free app found at www.channel4.com/x graphically represents the current majority and number of non-voters in every UK constituency. Its launch follows the news that on May 7th, the nation’s most popular digital channel for young people, E4, will switch off its regular schedule to encourage its viewers to stop watching TV and get out and vote in the general election.

Visitors to the ‘X’ site will also be able to view a series of films called ‘Rick’s Tricks of the Political Trade’ in which Rick Edwards explains how politicians use words, body language and even their outfits to get their message across and what tell-tale signs to watch out for indicating manipulation techniques.

‘X’ campaign supporter and author of ‘None of the Above’ Rick Edwards said, “Millions failed to vote in 2010 but since then the Scottish Referendum has shown how people of all ages, and especially under-25s, can re-engage with politics and demonstrate the influence they have. The Power App is a simple way of learning just how much difference you can make by voting in your constituency.”

“As 7th May approaches quickly, now is the time to really understand how much power you actually have. That’s why you should make your mark with your X and be counted,” said Adam Gee, Commissioning Editor, Channel 4 Multiplatform & Online Video (Factual).

Production credits

Production Company: Telesgop

Digital agency: Rocket

Executive Producer: Siobhan Logue

Multiplatform Executive Producer: Annabel McLeod

Commissioning Editor: Adam Gee – Multiplatform & Online Video (Factual)

 

For Further Information Contact:

Eliz Helvacioglu, John Doe: eliz.helvacioglu@johndoehub.com / 0207 100 5050

Victoria Wawman, Channel 4: vwawman@channel4.co.uk

Claire Cumberland, Channel 4: ccumberland@channel4.co.uk

 

Notes to Editors:

About Channel 4

Channel 4 is a publicly-owned, commercially-funded, not-for-profit public service broadcaster and has a remit to be innovative, experimental and distinctive. Its public ownership and not-for-profit status ensure all profit generated by its commercial activity is directly reinvested back into the delivery of its public service remit. As a publisher-broadcaster, Channel 4 is also required to commission UK content from the independent production sector and currently works with over 400 creative companies across the UK every year. In addition to the main Channel 4 service, its portfolio includes: E4, More4, Film4, 4Music, 4seven, Channel4.com and digital service All 4.

About All 4

All 4 is available on a wide range of platforms including: PC; Freesat Freetime, Sky, Virgin Media, BT TV, YouView and NOW TV/Roku boxes; via apps for Windows 8, Windows Phone, iOS and Android devices; and on Sony PS3, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Samsung TV

About Telesgop

Telesgop is an independent multimedia production company based in Swansea in south Wales. The company has over 20 years’ experience producing compelling content for television, radio and online. Telesgop have produced a range of high quality factual programming for broadcasters including the BBC, Channel 4, S4C, Animal Planet and Discovery. Previous Channel 4 programmes include ‘Wallis Simpson: The Secret Letters’ and ‘Edward VIII’s Murderous Mistress’.