The USI launched their ‘Get RegD’ campaign to encourage students to register to vote.
Back in 2014, over 120,000 people under the age of 25 were not registered to vote according to a survey published by the National Youth Council of Ireland.
The USI promised to register thousands of students across Ireland to vote on Wednesday, November 8th.
“Registering to vote is now part of coming to college. First years now get a student card, and a voter registration form,” USI President Michael Kerrigan said.
“It’s important for students to be registered to vote to have the chance to elect people who have young people’s interests at heart, and have a say in the numerous referendums coming up,” he said.
Global business student in DCU Maria Murphy is not yet registered to vote.
“I only knew it was National Voter Registration day because I saw it on James Kavanagh’s Instagram story. I wasn’t old enough to vote in the last referendum so I still haven’t thought to register,” she said.
DCU communications student Carmel Kenny hasn’t registered yet either. “I’m not registered but I did look at the register of electors to see if I already was. I definitely plan on registering before the deadline,” she said.
The USI teamed up with the National Youth Council of Ireland and Spunout.ie for the campaign.
Ian Power, Executive Director of SpunOut.ie said, “The National Voter Registration Day has had huge success in the past, and with a number of referendums coming up in the next two years, it’s important young people in Ireland get registered to vote so that they can have a say in their future. This is a great initiative to get students engaged and to empower them to use their vote.”
Students are urged to check if they must add their name or change their details in the draft register as the deadline for this is November 25th.
Elsa McEvoy