- Associated Press - Wednesday, September 12, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) - Here’s something most politicians can “like”.

A new study suggests Facebook friends may have played a significant role in getting hundreds of thousands of people to vote in the last congressional election.

Researchers found that Facebook users who got messages on Election Day that their friends had voted were a bit more likely to go to the polls than those who didn’t get the same reminder.

They say the effect multiplied and likely increased turnout by as many as 340,000 voters in 2010.

Outside experts say the new study fits with other research on get-out-the-vote drives. But they say the numbers may be a bit high.

The study is reported in Thursday’s issue of the journal Nature.

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