Charities and community groups are being urged to apply for government funding to get more people signed up to the electoral register – even if they have no prior experience of running such projects.

The Democratic Engagement Innovation Fund, which was announced at the beginning of July, opened to applications for a share of the £4.2m fund yesterday. Organisations are being invited to apply for grants of up to £100,000 for projects that will engage the under-24s and those in social housing with the democratic process.

Chloe Smith, minister for political and constitutional reform, said: “I would like to urge any organisation that has an idea for improving voter registration among young people or people in social housing to come to us and bid for some of this money.

“Even if your charity or social enterprise is not in the business of getting people on the electoral register, your networks and expertise in your community could be invaluable in our quest to give everybody the opportunity to use their right to vote.”

The government is also seeking to bids from local organisations to deliver its Rock Enrol lesson framework to 16 and 17-year-olds in schools.

The UK is set to move to an individual electoral registration system from June 2014 rather than the household system that is in place now.

To apply for funding organisations need to visit the government’s procurement services website. Expressions of interest will close on 21 August and the deadline to submit applications is the 3 September.