Young voters ‘need to know the power they have’: DkIT Students Union president
The Drogheda Independent"Young people need to be more informed of the power they have as a voter,” says DkIT Students Union President, Gerry O’Brien.
As new figures show people aged 18 to 34 are the largest demographic not registered to vote, the head of Dundalk IT’s Student Union feels young people aren’t engaging because they don’t feel well informed.
President Michael D. Higgins took up office when the majority of today’s first year students were just three or four years old, becoming a somewhat permanent fixture for most of their young lives.
Indeed, this longevity means young people haven’t had to consider who should replace him, says Gerry.
”I think for a lot of students, they are just coming of age, and probably looking at voting for the first time. They don’t feel they know enough about the role of the President.”
He said it was encouraging to hear that a campus visit this week by An Coimisiún Toghcháin, the independent electoral commission, led to “a lot of engagement from our students.”
"For most young people, unless they come from families with a political background, they are not really aware of the role, how to vote, how to register to vote, so in many respects there is definitely a lack of understanding there that needs to be looked at.”
The general consensus among student unions across the country, says Gerry, is that although students are very much aware of the upcoming Presidential election, they don't know enough about it.
Some of it, he says, is due to the “life changing” move from secondary school into third level education.
"They are just becoming independent adults for the first time, there is so much change in their lives, and a lot more responsibility too. So I think the more we can inform them the better equipped they will be to make decisions about voting.”
The first step, he adds, is encouraging young people to register to vote.
"I think they need to be aware informed of the power they have as a voter. When we get a chance to have our say, we really need to take up that opportunity.”
A second visit by An Coimisiún Toghcháin is being planned before election day, October 24th, says Gerry.
"We will be having more conversations on campus in the next few weeks, to encourage young voters to look at the three candidates, and get as much information as they can to use their vote.”