Polling day for the forthcoming abortion referendum and all future elections should be held on Saturdays to improve voter turn-out, according to Fine Gael.
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Mr Tom Hayes, TD for Tipperary South
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Mr Tom Hayes, TD for Tipperary South, claimed the Government had failed to take into account people’s working and living patterns when setting polling day.
He said many people travel long distances to and from work, leaving them with very little to vote before polling closes.
He said Saturday voting would encourage young people to take part in the democratic process, "as tens of thousands of college students living away from home are effectively being denied their vote when polling takes place on a week day."
"Saturday voting would also mean that schools would not have to close to facilitate mid-week voting," he added.