Young people urged to have voices heard in new 'Vote at 16' campaign

YOUNG PEOPLE aged 16 and 17 are being urged to contact local politicians as well as Minister for the Environment John Gormley, seeking the right to vote.

The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) launched the campaign yesterday for the extension of the franchise to people under the current voting age of 18.

The campaign, captioned “Vote at 16 – A New Age in Voting”, was announced with the help of about 10 young people outside Leinster House yesterday.

Among these was Maria Kelly (17) from Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary, who said there were many issues that affected younger people and they should have a voice in how they were dealt with.

“The economy is obviously important and people who are leaving school and early school-leavers are affected by that. A lot of young people have part-time jobs and are contributing to the economy and should have a voice.”

She said education was a “huge issue” and the possibility of college fees was “frightening”.

Nathan Morrow-Murtagh (17), from Straffan, Co Kildare, also said a “significant number of young people leave school before the Leaving Certificate”.

“They are going straight into employment, paying taxes and not having the ability to affect the way those taxes are being spent, not having a voice.”

Asked whether it wasn’t reasonable that a young person’s parents would be their voice until they were 18, he said: “If you can find me a teenager that does or agrees with everything their parents say I’d like to meet them.”

Communications officer for the NYCI Clodagh O’Brien said there would be a website – www.voteat16.ie – to accompany the campaign that would provide information to young people about registering to vote, the voting process and enabling them to contact Mr Gormley.

“The council believes young people should have the say in what’s happening. They are criminally responsible, can join the Army, can pay taxes if they have a job so why can’t they vote?”

James Doorley, assistant director of the NYCI, said one of the key reasons why young people did not engage with the political process was that they were disillusioned with politicians and political parties who ignored them.

“The Irish voter registration system is very outdated and on turning 18 many young people are not registered in time to vote. By reducing the voting age you would engage young people in the political process much earlier.”

A spokesman said Mr Gormley had received the council’s submission and was looking at it. He added the Green Party was in favour of lowering the voting age but said any such change would need the support of the Government, the Oireachtas and the electorate in a referendum.