Demonstrators call for Saturday election

A Saturday election date will be the best polling day for young people, campaigners have reiterated today.

The Rock The Vote movement said that overall national turnout could drop below 60% for the first time in the state if students and '20-somethings' are not encouraged to exercise their franchise.

A Dáil demonstration on the issue was today supported by Opposition party leaders Enda Kenny and Trevor Sargent as well as cross-party TDs including Barry Andrews, Ciaran Cuffe, Michael D Higgins, Olivia Mitchell, Fiona O'Malley and Tom Parlon.

Rock The Vote spokesman Daire Hickey said: "We need to ensure that young people don't feel disenfranchised.

"We need to create a habit of voting from an early age that will be continued by young people for the rest of their lives.

"If you look at research carried out by the CSO and the National Youth Council, Saturday is the best day to get young people to come out to vote."

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern recently appeared to favour a Thursday polling day as he said he had seen a low turnout in Dublin at the 2002 election, which was held on a Friday.

However Labour TD Eamon Gilmore immediately claimed that the Taoiseach feared that students living away from home might use their vote against the Government.

Speculation has centred on a date towards the middle or end of May.

The Rock The Vote campaign will be officially launched in coming weeks in time for the general election campaign.

An information drive as well as a list of events to encourage young people to vote will also be announced.

A public awareness roadshow will also visit cities, towns and college campuses around the country.