Fine Gael Candidate for Kildare South Cllr Richard Daly has described as a disgrace the fact that so many young people and commuters will be disenfranchised by the General Election being held on a Thursday.
“Fine Gael is committed to ensuring that all those entitled to vote are given the maximum opportunity to do so. Fine Gael recently proposed legislation in the Dáil to guarantee weekend voting, which would allow many more young people to have their say in the elections. The Minister for Education, Deputy Sean O Fearghail and the rest of the Government voted against this.
“Young people who have long commutes or are in college in another part of the country will suffer most by holding this election on a Thursday. Forty per-cent of young people who did not vote in 2002 cited being away from home on polling day or not being registered as a reason for not voting.
“There are 650,000 people in Ireland aged between 19 and 28 and we must ensure that every single one of these voters is actively encouraged to vote and are given the greatest opportunity to do so.
“It is quite obvious Fianna Fáil and the PDs know they have let young people down on a whole range of issues including the cost of housing, mental health services and road safety and now they are running away from them”, said Cllr Daly
“If the current Government had any regard for young voters they would have called a weekend poll. I encourage students and young commuters who make an extra effort to get home to vote to make their annoyance felt at the ballot box by voting for change; voting Fine Gael”.
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