Green Party calls for weekend voting | Ciaran Cuffe

Press Release: Environment 22 March 2007

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22 March 2007

Green Party calls for weekend voting

"Govt should be pulling out all the stops to increase participation amongst younger people"

The Green Party has called for the forthcoming General Election to be held on a weekend. Reacting to An Taoiseach's suggestion in the Dáil yesterday that the General Election may be held on a Thursday, the Green Party said that this would reduce the turn-out amongst younger voters.

Green Party Environment spokesman Ciarán Cuffe said: "The Government should be pulling out all the stops to increase voter participation amongst younger people. If an Taoiseach chooses a midweek date for the election it will discriminate against students who spend part of the week away from home, close to their place of education.

"It would be hard for many students and young people to travel home for a mid-week election and would interrupt their studies. A weekend or failing that, a Friday election, is the best option to increase voter turn-out amongst students and others voting for the first time.

"We support the petition initiated by Simon Tuohy and Cian O'Flaherty on the political blog IrishElection.com calling for a weekend or a Friday Polling Day, and urge those who feel strongly about the issue to sign their online petition and contact their local TDs on the issue. We also commend the Labour Party for their adoption of the Green Party's policy to reduce the voting age to 16."