West Belfast Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

O'Hara welcomes electoral office plans to visit schools

Published: 10 July, 2008

Lisburn Sinn Féin councillor Charlene O'Hara has welcomed the announcement by the electoral office that they plan to visit 95% of post-primary schools by 31st March 2009 to conduct electoral registration and electoral ID sessions.

Ms O'Hara, the youngest councillor in Ireland, said:

''I am very pleased to see that the electoral office are about to take significant steps to increase the number of young people registering to vote and getting their electoral identity card.

''Last school year the electoral office visited Colaiste Feirste to launch the Irish language registration form and held a very successful registration and ID session which was well received by students.

''Caitriona Ruane, in her capacity as education minister, has facilitated this significant expansion of the electoral office plan around post-primary schools.

''With this year being the 40th anniversary of the civil rights movement, and the central demand of that movement for '1 person, 1 vote', more people need to be aware of the power of a vote.

''I am 20 years of age and I have noticed apathy from many young people around the importance of voting.

''I would also call on the electoral office to hold electoral registration and electoral ID clinics in further education colleges where there are significant numbers of young people studying.''