New National Voter Registration Day to be launched on April 30

A new campaign to create an annual National Voter Registration Day on April 30 was launched yesterday, March 27.

The initiative aims to establish a national day in Ireland to promote voter registration among eligible voters.

The three founders of the initiative, Liliana Fernandez, Programme Manager at Common Purpose Ireland, Leon Diop, Co-Founder of Black and Irish, and Brian Hearne, Policy and Communications Manager at the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS), say that their main focus is to increase greater political participation among minority groups and young people ahead of the local elections in June 2024

Speaking about the launch of National Voter Registration Day, Liliana Fernandez said that there is a lack of knowledge about voter rights, which “raises concerns about civic engagement and representation in Irish politics.”

“In anticipation of the upcoming local elections, we are collaborating with community leaders across the country to inform minorities and young people of their political rights, educate them on the roles of local councillors, the functions of local authorities, and how to register to vote,” she added.

Brian Hearne said, “We want to ensure that anyone who is eligible to vote is registered to vote, but in particular, we want to reach underrepresented groups and young people who are often unaware of their voting rights in Ireland.”

“For example, many migrants who do not have Irish citizenship are unaware that they can vote in local elections. Our aim is to have as many voter registration centres as we can throughout Ireland.”

The campaign will see work being done to implement a nationwide National Voter Registration Day on April 30 through the collaboration of community leaders, groups, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders.

Materials will also be made available for voter registration drives to happen across Ireland, with the official launch taking place at the Mansion House in Dublin.

Over 30 organisations from across the country are supporting the initiative, including Black and Irish, the Irish Council for International Students, the National Women’s Council, the Electoral Commission, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, and the National Traveller Women's Forum.