Snapchat has introduced a Mini called Run for Office to encourage users in the US to engage with local politics.
The company says Run for Office is “designed to help Snapchatters engage with democracy in an easy, native-to-mobile way.” That’s likely why it was released as a Mini, which are small apps or games that Snapchat users can access without having to leave the messaging platform.
Run for Office utilizes data from BallotReady, a company that bills itself as “America’s electoral database” wherein “every piece of information is verified by nonpartisan researchers and linked to its source,” to find opportunities for Snapchat users to compete for positions in local office.
Snapchat says Run for Office can be used to find interesting positions among “over 75,000 upcoming elections on the federal, state and local level that Snapchatters may be eligible for.” It will provide information about the positions, too, such as details about the most recent election.
The app can also be used to connect Snapchat users with “experienced candidate recruitment organizations and training programs across the political spectrum,” Snapchat says, and will allow users to nominate their friends for a local office that seems like a good fit for them as well.
Run for Office’s final offerings: Providing a dashboard that “will show Snapchatters the first steps they need to take to get on the ballot, including filing deadlines and signature requirements, as well as contact information for local election offices” and stickers they can use in their Snaps.
“We know this next generation is the most diverse,” Snapchat says, “yet currently only 6% of state legislators are under the age of 35. We hope our Run for Office initiative will help shape a more equitable, and reflective, democracy that includes all Americans, including young people.”
Run for Office can be accessed in the Snapchat app by swiping down on the camera screen or searching for it by name. The app is currently exclusive to the US; Snapchat didn’t immediately respond to our request for comment about the possibility of it expanding to other countries.
