It may have been a lacklustre campaign and some aspects of it will have only reinforced public cynicism about politics and politicians. But the right to vote remains a precious one and it should be exercised by all registered voters in today's general election.
Many of us, especially the young, have a tendency to be somewhat blase about parliamentary democracy; but the struggle for universal suffrage, which still continues among a billion people in China, across Asia and South America, remains one of the most honourable causes in human history. It is to be hoped that the belated introduction of civic, social and political education at Junior Certificate level later this year will help to foster among a new generation a keener appreciation of the importance of the democratic process.
It may be that people, young and old, are disinclined to vote because they are disillusioned with the political process but, as Shaw once observed: "Liberty also means responsibility, that is why most men dread it". Some 2.7 million people are registered to cast their votes today, an increase of about 150,000 on 1992. All of these people have, indeed, a responsibility to exercise their vote; to vote for a candidate who can make a real contribution to this State.
Today, voters, in selecting the members of the ht Dail, have a real opportunity to shape a better Ireland for themselves, their families and their children. And there is a real choice: the two alternative governments offer quite distinct visions of Irish society. There are important differences of emphasis between them in relation to future developments in European policy and Northern Ireland. When he or she reaches for the ballot paper today, the voter is not just exercising an ancient right. He and she are determining the kind of Ireland they wish to see for the new millennium.
The authorities have done their best to encourage voting by providing extended opening hours at polling stations. In an imaginative move which reflects the nature of modern Irish society in which many people are engaged in shift work and/or depart for work much earlier than in the past, voting will be possible from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. tonight. Hopefully, this will allow the turnout figure to eclipse the 68.5 per cent achieved in 1992.
The omens appear promising: the most recent opinion poll in this newspaper indicated that some 77 per cent of the electorate will definitely cast votes today. And the very high TV audience for Wednesday's debate between the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, and the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Ahern, also provides encouraging evidence that a large chunk of the electorate cares deeply about the task of choosing the next government.
At this writing it still seems unclear whether either of the two prospective governments the Rainbow Coalition or Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats will secure sufficient votes to gain an overall majority. As our Chief Political Correspondent has noted, the pattern of transfers will have a critical bearing on the final outcome. In the past, the Irish electorate has shown a very sophisticated knowledge of the proportional representation system; but on this occasion it is especially important to make full use of the system by marking the ballot paper right through to the last preference. For the past three weeks the politicians have had their say. Now it is the turn of the people to deliver their judgment.