Just over 72,000 people have registered to vote in the new University constituency in the Seanad – despite over 800,000 people being eligible.
The 6-seater, which will be voted on following the next general election, will allow university graduates from all third-level institutions to vote after decades of only Trinity and national University graduates being allowed to vote.
With just 10% of the Seanad’s seats able to be voted on by university graduates, along with a general lack of knowledge about the expanded constituency, the registration drive has failed to take advantage of the potentially huge electorate.
In last Sunday’s regional parliament election in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, turnout jumped by 17.5% for a total turnout of 77.8%.
Ireland, by contrast, saw turnout of less than 50% for council and European elections in June 2024, and a turnout of less than 60% in the 2024 general election, a drop from the 2020 general election.
Art O’Leary, Chief Executive of An Coimisiún Toghcháin, said “the creation of the new Seanad Higher Education constituency is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to open up participation in our democracy to hundreds of thousands more people.”
“For many decades, the right to elect these six Senators was confined to graduates of just two universities. Today, graduates of more than eighty higher education institutions can potentially have their voice heard in the election of Seanad Éireann,” he said.
O’Leary said “the real success of this historic reform will be measured by how many eligible people ultimately know about their right to vote and take the opportunity to register.
“We now have an opportunity to build on the strong foundations that have been laid. We want every eligible graduate, whether living in Ireland or anywhere around the world, to know that they may now have a new voice in Irish democracy,” O’Leary stated.
For people who have not registered thus far, there is still plenty of time.
“Our message is simple: if you are eligible, register at SeanadVoter.ie. Be part of this historic change and make sure your voice can be heard when the next Seanad election takes place in 2030,” O’Leary said.