Peres using Facebook to urge young people to vote

Israeli President Shimon Peres released a Facebook application to encourage young Israelis to vote.

Peres on Sunday unveiled a video and Facebook application called “Bocher Mavi Chaver,” or “Voter Brings a Friend.”

He collaborated with the popular actor Eyal Kitzis in calling for every Israeli to invite four friends to go to the polls. The invitation can be sent from Peres' Facebook page.

Yaron Shilon, director of the popular Israeli satire show “Eretz Nehederet” (“Wonderful Country”), and Sari Alfi, scriptwriter for the comedy show “Mazav HaUma” (“State of the Nation”) produced the video.

“I call upon every young person with the right to vote for the first time, don't miss the opportunity,” Peres said when unveiling the project at his official residence in Jerusalem. “When you vote, you respect not only your country but also yourselves as citizens. Voting is a civic duty of the utmost importance; the result will personally impact each and every one of us personally and form our collective future.”

Internet users will be able to ensure that their friends have voted by seeing who has “Checked In” on Facebook when they arrive at the ballot box.