If you're not in, you can't win! Now that postal voting has been introduced for students living away from home, Campus Times is begging its readers to make sure to get themselves on the electoral register.

Remember, you have to re-register every year - otherwise you can't be sure that come an election you have a vote. Local authorities are now preparing the register of electors for next year. European and local elections are due to be held on Friday June 11th, 1999. You may anticipate being at home by June next year, but what if there's a snap general election or a referendum before then? You may be caught on the hop and find yourself unable to get home from college in order to vote. Apply for your postal vote now. You need to get a special application form - PV2 - which is available from local authorities, Garda stations, health clinics and libraries.

In order to qualify for a postal vote you have to be attending a course of study in an educational institution within the State on a full-time basis and be living away from your address of registration. The closing date for postal vote applications is November 25th.