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350,000 youths may not vote
03.06.09
UP to 70% of young
people eligible to vote on Friday may not do so
because they find the Irish political system
"inaccessible, confusing and uninspiring". That's
according to a new survey carried out by
Donegal-founded national youth organisation
SpunOut.ie.
SpunOut founder Ruairí McKiernan said there are
approximately 500,000 young people in Ireland
between the ages of 18 and 25 but up to 70%, or
350,000, may not vote on June 5.
“Young people often find the political system
difficult to understand and access. Many don’t know
what impact their vote would have and they generally
don’t know how the local and European government
systems work," said Mr McKiernan. "This is further
compounded by difficulties in voter registration and
a sense of despair when it comes to mainstream
politics, parties and their policies." |
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SpunOut.ie reaches more
than 100,000 young people every year. But its
founder says young people are "not as uninterested"
in the upcoming elections as many people might
think. "Instead they are finding the political
system inaccessible, confusing and uninspiring." And
what of those who do intend to vote?
“Those that do intend voting appear to be moving
away from post Civil War politics where people voted
Fine Gael or Fianna Fail in line with family
allegiances. A young well-travelled, highly educated
and increasingly unemployed generation are actively
seeking alternatives to |
represent their world
views but are increasingly disillusioned by a
political system which pays lip service to youth
issues,” he added.
The young organisation is calling for civic
education in schools, a more participatory voting
system and a move away from "meaningless placards
and sloganeering". "Parties need to articulate their
policies on youth issues, address major concerns
such as access to education, employment and
recreation facilities, and make bold new moves to
tackle equality, climate change and corporate
corruption," said Mr McKiernan. |
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