By Naomi Linehan
Across the country people have been rushing home to their television sets, watching with baited breath as the European election nominations were announced. It’s all the talk in the local, and people are even placing friendly wagers on who will be the next big name in Europe. Sounds more like the ardent fans of a reality TV show than the Irish electorate doesn’t it? So why is it that we can get millions of people to come out and vote on the outcome of reality TV shows like Pop Idol, or Big Brother, but when it comes to politics, they just don’t seem to care? Maybe if the politicians could put their policies into some kind of limerick or a catchy song, we might take a little more notice.
A recent survey by the National Youth Council of Ireland showed that only 64% of young people between the ages of 18 and 21 years of age were registered to vote. The survey involved 1,020 young people aged between 18-25 years and investigated the attitudes of Ireland’s youth. The key issues addressed in the survey were the number of young people on the electoral register, voter turnout among young people and the views and opinions of young people on encouraging voter participation. The survey also found that online voting and automatic registration were seen by young people as the most effective methods of encouraging voter participation. The Union of Students in Ireland has been working to increase political awareness among young people in this country. The organisation does not have any political affiliation, but for the first time ever, they are encouraging their 200,000 members to vote against the government, and any other parties that endorse the reintroduction of fees.
Their website bears slogans and pictures encouraging young people to get out and vote:
Shane Kelly, President of the Union of Students in Ireland, said their organization had been working hard over the past few years, to increase awareness among young people, handing out leaflets after exams, and educating young people about how to register to vote.
Speaking about the importance of voter mobilization Mr. Kelly said “People need to realise that it’s not just important for them to vote for their own benefit. Their vote will make a difference to the lives of their younger brothers and sisters, their parents, their neighbours- it tunnels throughout the community.”
He also reiterated, that although this was one of many issues which would effect the youth voting population, he said that this issue “that was going to prevent people getting to higher education, and was going to have a debilitating effect on people trying to get jobs in the future.”So far the Union of Students in Ireland has successfully helped 45,000 new members to register to vote, and have organized over 65,000 students to take to the streets in protest.
