With the general election at a close, another Fine Gael-Fianna Fail coalition government appears likely. However, voter apathy on the election continues to persist in Dublin.
Despite a robust campaign from the Electoral Commission, voter turnout in this year’s general election saw a decline of 3.19 per cent to a national turnout of 59.71 per cent, according to the IPSOS exit poll. Compared to the general election in February 2020 which saw a turnout of 62.9 per cent.
A Henry Street worker told The College View that she did not vote at all, citing the fact that election results have not shown a dramatic change in leadership. “Nothing’s gonna change anyways,” she said.
One stall worker said he was not drawn into politics, or the outcome of the election, but that he did cast a vote. “I just didn’t vote Sinn Fein, I’d be in trouble with the boss if I did that,” he said.
Across the Liffey, a medicine student also said that they did not vote. “I never realised you have to be registered to a specific place, and I was in Dublin and registered at home, so yeah, I didn’t get to vote,” she said.
Another student said they were reassured by a Fianna Fail and Fine Gael government, but that “[she doesn’t] remember too many governments, but they have been the norm and I don’t see that as a bad thing”.
However, many voters say otherwise. Fine Gael saw a loss over the weekend, with Fianna Fail emerging as the largest party with 48 seats. Fine Gael have been in government for nearly 14 years, with Fianna Fail joining a coalition in 2020.
Two Trinity College Dublin students said they felt there was little surprise in the likelihood of another Fianna Fail and Fine Gael government. “I was more hopeful that they wouldn’t win but I’m also not surprised,” one student said.
Two politics students said they were concerned that even a coalition involving the Social Democrats wouldn’t see much change enacted. “I’m not sure the opposition is doing much in reality but I am also unsure they would be able to get their policy changes in a good way,” one of them said.
Two U.S students said they enjoyed following the campaigns closely. They told The College View that, as outsiders, they were interested in the concept of a coalition while also understanding others’ frustration with the result. “It feels like there was a big opportunity for change and that’s been lost now,” one said.
Ex-CEO of FBD Insurance, Fiona Muldoon, said turnout is one of the primary concerns in the election. The low turnout, matched with the result “probably means many people struggled to see any viable alternative to the traditional two parties.”
Muldoon also spoke of the disappointment she felt on behalf of the young people of Ireland saying, “Young people on good salaries will continue to struggle to live independently”.
She told The College View about the disappointment she felt on how young people were not feeling the benefits of the vast amounts of wealth the country has accumulated.
“People of my age, who grew up in the grim 70’s and 80’s, could never have imagined so much wealth in the country or public finances,” she said, adding that “too many young people will not be able to repeat what I have accomplished, owning my own home, rearing a family or providing for a pension.”
James A. Kelly, a Dublin-based poet, also commented on the turnout saying, “it’s 172 seats now, when you look at the turnout, it should be 160 seats really.”
He referenced a boring campaign as a possible reason for low turnout, saying it was a “low-key election really, no big scandal, you can’t beat a bit of scandal.” Kelly mostly felt the lack of change was the standout and said the next government would be “the same again but with fancy knobs in it”.