Ireland

Young people urged to register to vote in Irish election

Election posters outside Government Buildings in Dublin as the 2016 general election campaign gets underway. Picture by Niall Carson, Press Association 
Election posters outside Government Buildings in Dublin as the 2016 general election campaign gets underway. Picture by Niall Carson, Press Association  Election posters outside Government Buildings in Dublin as the 2016 general election campaign gets underway. Picture by Niall Carson, Press Association 
By Lesley-Anne McKeown and Press Association

AROUND 59,000 young people in the Republic are being reminded to register to vote.

The National Youth Council of Ireland has urged those who turned 18 in the last 12 months to ensure they are able to take part in the forthcoming general election.

James Doorley, NYCI deputy director explained: "Excellent work was done last year to get young people on the electoral register, especially since NYCI published our study in September 2014 showing that 30% of 18 to 25-year-olds were not registered. However, with over 59,000 young people nationwide turning 18 in the last 12 months, we need to work continually to ensure all are registered.

"For almost every election we get calls from young people who have missed the registration deadline and are disappointed that they cannot vote.

"We urge young people to make sure they are registered and not to leave it to the last minute, so that they can vote in the upcoming general election."

The deadline for inclusion on the election register is February 9.