Take note, can you can vote?
Are you registered to vote? The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) is urging young people to make sure they have registered to vote before the deadline on 25 November.
James Doorley, NYCI Deputy Director said: “With over 312,543 registered voters across Cork, we are urging young people to join them, and get on the register by 25 November, especially as we know a general election will take place in the first half of 2020.
“Census 2016 figures indicate that there are 689,996 young people aged 18 to 29 in Ireland, which represents a potentially very large youth vote. We know from our work with young people that the vast majority want to vote but not all are aware they have to register. This is particularly an issue among the thousands of young people who turned 18 and became eligible to vote in recent months,” said Mr Doorley.
If you are unsure as to whether you are registered to vote, you can check online at checktheregister.ie.
Registering to vote now means less red tape and bureaucracy than registering down the line, explained Mr Doorley: “Anyone not currently registered can apply to be included in the annual revision of the register. All you have to do is fill out an RFA form and send it to your county or city council by 25 November, in order to make sure they will be able to cast their ballot in future elections or referendums.”
Applying to vote is also open to those who are currently 17, but will turn 18 before 15 February 2020. Any person who turned 18 since the last election or referendum and is not registered can also apply to be included in the 2020/2021 register.
“One of the privileges of living in a democracy is the right to have a say in who represents us at local level and who governs us at national level.
“We only get the chance to have our say every four or five years in general elections, so it is important that all citizens, especially young people who have recently gained that right, make sure they can exercise their franchise by being registered to vote in time, and we strongly recommend they do so on or before the upcoming deadline,” concluded Mr Doorley.