Offaly young people urged to ensure they can vote as deadline nears and in time for 2020 General Election

**** NO REPRODUCTION FEE **** DUBLIN : 19/05/2014 : Youth floating vote will be key to local and European elections Latest polls show 40% of young people undecided. Pictured (l-r) calling on young people to vote were Union of Students of Ireland members Paddy Guiney (jumping), Eve O’Connor, Laura Harmon, Emmett Hughes, Annie Hoey, Greg O’Donoghue, Cat O’Driscoll and USI President Joe O’Connor. A coalition of youth groups including the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI), the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) and SpunOut.ie called on young people to make sure they use their vote in the upcoming local, European and by-elections. “Up to 458,000 young people aged 18-25 have the right to vote in these elections. Significant numbers of these are floating voters, with the latest polls indicating that up to 40% of young voters remain undecided just one week before the vote. “These floating voters will support candidates committed to addressing the core issues impacting on the lives of young people today. We are encouraging young people to use their vote next Friday to ensure politicians hear their voice,” said James Doorley, NYCI Deputy Director. Picture Conor McCabe Photography.
MEDIA CONTACT : Daniel Meister (NYCI Communications Manager) 087 781 4903 or 01 425 5955 or communications@nyci.ie
Ian Power (Director, SpunOut.ie) 083 148 4527
USI President Joe O’Connor 0872191862

The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) – which represents organisations working with over 380,000 young people nationwide – is urging young people to make sure they have registered to vote before the deadline on Monday November 25th. Registering to vote now means less red tape and bureaucracy than registering down the line, explains the youth council,

James Doorley, NYCI Deputy Director said “With 58,066 registered voters in Offaly, we are urging young people to join them, and get on the register by November 25th, 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.”

How to make sure you are registered to vote

For those unsure whether they are registered or not, the NYCI advises that they check online at www.checktheregister.ie

“Anyone not currently registered can apply to be included in the annual revision of the register. All you have to do is fill out a RFA form (which is available on checktheregister.ie or in local post offices, Garda stations, council offices) and send it to your county or city council by Monday November 25th, in order to make sure they will be able to cast their ballot in future elections or referendums,” added Mr Doorley.

Anyone 18 on or before 15th of February 2020 can apply

“This does not just apply to those currently aged 18-29 years. Any person who turned 18 since the last election or referendum and is not registered, but also any young person who is currently 17, but will turn 18 by the 15th of February 2020, can apply for inclusion in the 2020/2021 register.

It is important to note that the 2020/2021 electoral register only applies from February 15th 2020, so if by chance there was an election or referendum before then, the 2019/2020 register would be used. NYCI also reminded applicants that it is their responsibility to make sure all the documentation arrives on time, so we recommend they deliver it by hand rather than post if you are submitting it close to the deadline.

“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 on Monday, November 25^th next,” concluded Mr Doorley.

Sources:
* Register of Electors 2017/2018 – by Local Authority

**CSO: Population 2011 to 2016 (Number) by County and City, Sex, Single Year http://www.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Statire/SelectVarVal/Define.asp?maintable=EY007&PLanguage=0