Students urged to register for vote

YOUNG Fine Gael (YFG) launched a campaign yesterday to encourage third-level students, many of whom will be first-time voters, to register to vote.

Cork Senator Jerry Buttimer launched the Stand Up and Be Counted campaign on the grounds of University College Cork. It is also under way at other third-level colleges.

“The general election has been called, but if it is to affect change, and the results are to truly reflect public opinion, the public must ensure they can use their voice come polling day,” a spokesperson for UCC YFG said.

“Everyone is talking, everyone has an opinion, but the only way to be heard is to vote.”

While the electoral register is closed, people can still be included on the supplementary register, up to 15 days before polling day, but it requires them to present themselves at a Garda station.

YFG is manning a stand on UCC’s campus until this afternoon advising students and staff on how to go about it.

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin Cork South Central candidate, Cllr Chris O’Leary, called on local authorities to set up special community clinics to facilitate such voter registration.

“We are facing into the most important election in our recent history. Yet there is broad agreement that the electoral register is deeply flawed, riddled with inaccuracies and excludes many voters.

“Sinn Féin is calling on the franchise departments of the city and county councils to set up voter registration clinics in communities.” He said officials from the franchise departments could advise people on how to fill in the registration forms.

“This would facilitate a significant number of electors who would otherwise be disenfranchised to register and have their say in this critical election,” he said.

And separately, the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Michael O’Connell, has deferred his planned series of Town Hall meetings throughout the city, which were due to start tomorrow night, until after the general election.