Ukrainian vote in elections ‘significant’

UKRAINIANS living in West Kerry are entitled to register to vote in the forthcoming local elections, giving them the potential to be a significant influence on the result if they decide to vote as a block.

Under Irish law, anyone living in Ireland is entitled to register to vote in the local elections, no matter what citizenship they hold.

Ukrainian liaison officer with NEWKD, Natalia Krasnenkova, told The Kerryman that information session are being provided to explain the workings of the electoral system, and in particular proportional representation which is different from the voting system used in Ukraine.

NEWK will also supply pamphlets to each of the election candidates, providing information on the Ukrainians living in their electoral area, who they are, why they are here and what they are doing as regards school or work, as well as what their greatest needs and concerns are.

While not all of the 655 Ukrainians living in West Kerry are eligible to vote, national figures show that 80 per cent of the people who took refuge in Ireland are of voting age. In the Dingle electoral area that works out at about 500 people who are entitled to register to vote in the local elections.

The County Council elections will be held on June 7, on the same day the European elections will be held as well as a referendum on patents. Under Irish electoral law, EU citizens resident here can vote at European as well as local elections but not referenda, while Irish citizens can vote at all elections.