Rush to get registered far greater than in 2015

THERE has been an ‘unprecedented surge’ in voter registration ahead of Friday’s abortion referendum, new research shows.

According to a study by the National Youth Council of Ireland, an extra 125,000 people have registered to vote since February, twice the number of voters who signed up to the electoral register in the weeks before the referendum on same-sex marriage three years ago.

It suggests that the abortion vote is generating more interest than the same-sex marriage vote in 2015.

The registration increase in some areas on 2015 was more than double: Meath was up 123%; Kerry 112%; south Dublin 103%; and Westmeath 103%. Meanwhile, registration in Galway was up 97%; Tipperary was up 92% and Kilkenny was up 86%.

Almost 66,000 voters were added to the supplementary register ahead of the same-sex marriage referendum in May 2015 after an intensive registration campaign.

NYCI deputy director James Doorley said: ‘We know a lot of work was done by a range of organisations in late 2017 and many thousands of eligible voters were added to the electoral register.

‘It is really heartening so many young people responded to the call by NYCI and others, and took the opportunity to register at events organised by the USI, ISSU, SpunOut, individual student unions, youth organisations and community groups in recent weeks to ensure they had the right to vote in the upcoming referendum.’

The lowest percentage increases to date are from Dublin and Cork cities, with an increase of 38% and 37%, but this still represents, in Dublin city alone, an increase of more than 5,400 voters compared to those included in the supplementary register in 2015 – a total of 9,805 compared to 14,362 in 2015.

The NYCI was concerned that in April, more than one in five young people had still not registered to vote.

Mr Doorley added: ‘It is important to note that not all those added to this latest supplement to the register are young voters.

‘Some undoubtedly are not in the 18 to 29 age bracket, or are electors changing the location of their vote.

‘However, the indications we received from a number of county councils suggest that a high percentage of those registered are new or young voters.’

Staff in the 31 city and county councils have strongly supported the registration process and have completed the supplementary register, despite the unprecedented surge of new voters, says the NYCI.

‘We are confident that this extraordinary level of youth voter registration will be matched by a high level of youth voter turnout,’ Mr Doorley said.

‘In that regard, NYCI would encourage all young voters to use their democratic right on Friday next and have their say on the important constitutional question being put before the people.’

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