KENNY TO LAUNCH YFG VOTER REGISTRATION CAMPAIGN

Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny TD will today (Wednesday) launch a Young Fine Gael (YFG) campaign to encourage youth voter registration. The campaign will be launched at 12.00 noon at the Merrion Street entrance to Leinster House.

Speaking ahead of the launch, YFG President, Elizabeth Munnelly, said, “It’s not apathy, but bureaucracy, that stops many young people from voting. 46% of 18-19 year olds, 43% of students and 30% of 20-24 year olds did not vote in the 2002 General Election because they were not registered.”

” YFG will be making the point to our peers that if they do not vote they are less likely to have their views taken into account in the Country’s decision making processes.”

“At the last election, just over 40% of young people aged 18-25 voted. Only 6 members of the Dáil elected in 2002 were under 30 (five of those being Fine Gael TDs).”

“YFG are calling for automatic voter registration at 18, through use of the RSI system and election day registration for students and young people living away from home.”

YFG will be campaigning and using ad mobiles at concerts and festivals, such as ‘Electric Picnic’ and ‘Hi:Fi’, throughout the country over the summer and autumn with the aim of increasing the number of young people voting in the next General Election.

Download the YFG policy document on Youth participation at http://www.yfg.ie/downloads/Youthparticipation.doc.