Young and first-time voters have been urged to ensure they are on the register of electors for the coming general election in advance of Tuesday’s deadline.
The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) said 600,000 people under the age of 30 are eligible to vote, potentially a fifth of the electorate. Of those, 60,000 have turned 18 in the past year.
The election, said the organisation, is an important opportunity for them to make their voices heard. Previous research into the 2020 general election indicated those between 18 and 34 were significantly less likely to vote than those aged between 35 and 64.
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“A recent RedC poll we commissioned showed most people believe that politicians are not representing young people’s interests. This has to change,” said NYCI director for policy and advocacy Kathryn Walsh.
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“One of the most effective ways to change it is to get young people registered to vote. While the public will get drawn into the election campaign in the coming three weeks, it won’t matter if they’re not registered to vote. We don’t want young people to miss their chance to make their voices heard in a critical election that may not come again for another five years.
“With the voter registration deadline approaching, young people must take action now.”
The organisation is urging people to visit at checktheregister.ie.Those intending to register will require their Personal Public Service Number and Eircode.
“We know from our work with young people that the vast majority want to vote but not all are aware of the deadline or of the need to register. With online voter registration, engaging in the electoral process has never been more straightforward,” said Ms Walsh.
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