Snapchat invites UK users to share an election selfie with 'I voted' filters
Snapchat is encouraging voters to share election day selfies via a series of filters designed to show they have paid a visit to their local polling station.
The overlays have been served to Snapchatters in north and central London today (5 May) according to Mashable, and allow users to adorn their selfies with three phrases, including: 'It's Election Day', 'I voted' and 'England — Happy Voting! Poll Times: 7AM - 10PM'.
Various votes are taking place across the UK today, including the London mayoral election and the English council elections. Elections for the Scottish Parliament, the National National Assembly of Wales and Northern Ireland Assembly are also open until late tonight.
Also looking to get involved in the buzz around polling day `was Facebook, which has integrated an 'I voted' function into its Newsfeed to encourage discussion, as it did with the general election in 2015.
In 2014, the Electoral Commission had to issue a warning against voting booth selfies, for fear of voters posting them on social media and threatening the secrecy of the ballot. Over the past couple of years staff have been forced to put "no photography" signs inside UK polling stations to warn people of the danger of breaching laws around revealing how others have voted or communicating ID numbers on ballot papers.