Polling day debacle fuels apathy

POLLING day is set for Thursday, October 27th and this scandalous decision is the major source of my frustration and angst.

Firstly, I recall current government TDs expressing their own frustration and angst when their predecessors had overseen Thursday being chosen as voting day in the past.

This choice is fundamentally anti-democratic. The situation will prevent huge numbers of students and those who had to relocate for work being afforded the opportunity to vote.

Of course, It is understandable that those currently in power would make such a decision. It is their best bet at maintaining the status quo.

Students, people lucky to have found employment but have had to move from home to do so, and those who have been forced to emigrate, would be the real drivers of change in our society. After three months of unemployment, I was offered a new job last week.

Upon accepting the position, I began to plan my move to Dublin.

Unfortunately, I was informed that the deadline has just passed to change where I could vote and now I will not be in a position to exercise my basic democratic right. Given that polling day involves a Presidential election and two referendums, it surely should not be essential that I vote from my home constituency, but that is a side issue that technology should help us resolve.

Given that a lot of schools double up as polling stations, they will be shut on October 27. After reopening then on Friday, schools will once more close the following week for the mid-term break. Would it have made any difference to have held the vote during this period where the schools are already set to be empty? Is it any wonder the population grows more and more disillusioned and disengaged with our political establishment and current system as the “Government for Change” continues to rule with the same decision-making nonsense of their predecessors.

Thomas Fortune

Killarney

Co Kerry