Students flock to garda stations to ensure their place on register of electors

President of the USI, Kevin Donoghue, strongly supported the show of strength from students

NEWSQueues of students have been forming outside garda stations over the last two days in order to ensure their place on the register of electors.

The actions have occurred in response to Taoiseach Enda Kenny announcing the dissolution of the Dáil on Wednesday.

Students from Maynooth University, NUI Galway and IT Tralee gathered Wednesday in large numbers outside stations, hoping to complete the final stage in the process of registering to vote.

This follows after the USI successfully managed to register 10,000 students to vote on a single day last November. This increase in student voter registrations has been facilitated by the USI through their ‘Rock the Register’ campaign.

The universities of Ireland have been mirroring this campaign to encourage their students to become more politically aware and active.

The Central Statistics Office found an increase in the number of students voting in general elections over the past twenty years with a 52% turnout in 2002, rising to 71% partaking in voting process in 2011.

President of the USI, Kevin Donoghue, strongly supported the show of strength from students. “The amount of students who are registering to vote for the upcoming general election is just outstanding”, he said. He went on to say that “students are really energised to vote in this election and to make sure their voice is properly heard.  We’ve seen across Twitter and Facebook how many students are excited to register their vote, and voice, but today is only the beginning of our campaign to #MakeASmartVote in 2016 – [Thursday] there will be a major election registration push from DIT Students’ Union.”

The voting for the general election will happen on the 26 February. Registration to vote is open until the 15 of February. The SU are accepting unstamped forms up until February 10.

Una Harty

Úna is a third year Nanoscience student and Trinity Life editor for Trinity News.