Youth Council urges young people to register to vote before ...

The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) is urging all eligible young voters in Ireland to register before the deadline passes.

The deadline to register to vote in the upcoming general election is tomorrow, Tuesday, November 12.

The NYCI is also highlighting the simplicity of online registration as an important factor in ensuring young voices are heard in the democratic process.

Kathryn Walsh, NYCI’s Director for Policy and Advocacy, said: "Ireland’s youth population is growing, and there are over 600,000 young people aged 18 to 29 eligible to register to vote in Ireland. This represents almost 1 in 5 of those of voting age in Ireland.

“This means young people are a cohort that could prove hugely influential in the coming general election. A recent RedC poll we commissioned showed most people believe that politicians are not representing young people’s interests. This has to change. And one of the most effective ways to change it, is to get young people registered to vote.

“With the voter registration deadline approaching, young people must take action now. While the public will get drawn into the election campaign in the coming 3 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.”

First-time voters

The NYCI are particularly interested in ensuring that 60,000 young people who turned 18 and became eligible to vote in the last 12 months are on the register

“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, so that’s why it’s so important to get the word out ahead of tomorrow’s deadline, and make sure young people’s voices can be heard in the upcoming election," concluded Ms Walsh.

How to register

For those unsure whether they are registered or not, the NYCI advises that they check online at www.checktheregister.ie. For those not yet registered, the process can now be completed online at the same site. You will need to provide your PPSN, date of birth and Eircode.

The NYCI provides further information and FAQs for first time voters on youth.ie/vote.