Saturday election voting
Deputy Costello argued that the local and European elections should be held on a Saturday so young people and Leaving Certificate students are not disadvantaged. The Tánaiste said the relevant Minister would answer and indicated a June date was being considered.
It is crucial that we remove any barriers that may hinder young people's access to politics and to the electoral process. In the words of my young Green Party colleagues, it would be deeply misjudged and even regressive to hold the upcoming local and European elections on a Thursday or a Friday, particularly a Thursday or Friday that would clash with the leaving certificate. Will the Government commit to supporting young people and their access to the electoral process and holding the upcoming local and European elections on a Saturday to enable everyone to engage?