Have your say!

AN URGENT appeal has gone out to young Southsiders to make sure they are registered to vote so they can make their voices heard in the upcoming referendums.

Time is running out for the thousands in the 18 to 25 age group who have failed to register as the deadline rapidly approaches.

On May 22, the country will go to the polls to vote on two proposed amendments to the Constitution of Ireland – on same-sex marriage and the reduction of the age for Presidential candidates.

However, with the registration deadline falling just after the bank holiday, on Tuesday, May 5, it has been claimed that nearly 6,000 young people in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown alone risk missing the chance to exercise their democratic right to vote.

According to the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI), a RedC/NYCI poll last autumn found that up to 30 per cent of people in this particular age group were not registered to vote.

Based on the most recent data from the Central Statistics Office that would mean a total of 5,959 young people in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown will miss their chance on having a say on the future of the country.

When this figure is applied across Dublin City and County these numbers rise to 33,213.

“We know from our work with young people that the vast majority of them want to vote but are not aware they have to register to vote or only become aware after the deadline for inclusion in the supplementary register,

? James Doorley, NYCI deputy director explained.

“This is particularly an issue for young people who turned 18 and became eligible to vote since the local and European elections in 2014.

?

Any young person who is 18 years of age on or before May 22 is eligible to vote. If they are not currently registered, they can do so by downloading and filling in the RFA2 form at www.checktheregister.ie. This form must be brought to and stamped at a Garda station where the applicant is required to bring ID and returned to the local authority before close of business on Tuesday, May 5.

“We know that some local authorities have undertaken campaigns in the media and through house to house visits to ensure as many young people as possible are registered,

? Mr Doorley said.

“Likewise, many youth and community organisations have run registration drives to increase the number of young people on the electoral register since our poll last year.

“But, with the upcoming bank holiday weekend the latest day for posting the form is effectively Friday, May 1,

? Mr Doorley added

“We strongly encourage young people to register and to go out and vote in the upcoming referendums.

“It is your democratic right and a great opportunity to have your say in shaping the future of this country.

?

The Chairman of the Referendum Commission, Justice Kevin Cross, has already stated that voter turnout was always a concern.

The independent body, which is also charged with explaining the proposals and encouraging people to vote, has spent

?¬2.7m on promoting an awareness campaign that involved sending out two million booklets to households and taking out advertising on television, radio, online and in newspapers.

Justice Cross advised voters to check the electoral register online via checktheregister.ie.