DORSET youngsters are being urged to register to vote after shock figures show they are more likely to be Facebook users than voters.

A recent survey by Experian shows that the latest generation of voters are far more likely to have registered for Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat than the electoral roll.

The study shows an estimated 1.17 million UK 18-year-olds have a Facebook account, nearly four times as many as the 307,000 who will be joining the electoral roll.

YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter each have significantly more accounts with users of this age, compared to those registered to vote.

The study compared the number of social media users to the number of under 18s who have signed up to the electoral roll.

Figures show, the number of people in the UK who will turn 18 this year on the electoral roll fell by 1.69 per cent compared to 2015, according to the latest local authority annual canvass.

The drop in young electors contributed to an overall year-on-year decrease in the number of registered voters, which fell by 1.3 per cent to 45.6 million.

Jonathan Westley from the survey group, urged young people in Dorset to sign up to vote and make their voices heard.

He said: “People who haven’t registered to vote may not realise it’s not just a say on who runs their local council, or the country, that they’re missing out on. Lenders and other service providers use the electoral roll to help check your identity online so, for example, it could help you access a wide range of services, including applying for a passport. It can also be used to calculate your credit rating, potentially helping you access cheaper borrowing. Young people should view registering to vote as an easy way of establishing a credit history.”

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