Disenfranchisement of student vote in general election

I don’t like Thursdays. How the student vote has been silenced. by John Geraghty



The Government’s decision to stage the General Election on a Thursday had been much promoted, yet little debated. An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern cites a relatively low turnout for the 2002 General Election, which was held on a Friday, as the reason for this proposed date. The Government’s argument in favor of a Thursday ballot centre’s around the theory that many living in Ireland’s cities leave their home county on Friday evenings for weekend breaks and other excursions. By ensuring that the wealthier members of society, who can afford a rural holiday home or frequent breaks, are able to vote has a knock on effect of disenfranchising a far larger group of voters, Irish students living outside of their constituency. There are thousands of students attending Universities in counties other than their own, indeed Maynooth has students from as far a field as Donegal and Cork. As we well know, the May 24th Election occurs straight in the middle of summer examinations, the most crucial part of the College year. If one is aspiring to excel at their studies, it may well come to a decision between their academic record and their right to democratic participation. It is simply not an option for students to sit an examination, travel to their home county and return for another exam.

By holding the election on the 24th of May the Government have ensured a low youth turnout, thus furthering the political apathy of students and proving that the youth of this country are cut out of the democratic and decision making processes. Some would say that students tend not to vote, I say that they should at least be given the chance.

For those more conspiratorially minded among you, this could be seen as an intentional ploy by Fianna Fáil, who have not exactly endeared themselves to the student populace. Historically speaking, students tend to be a more radical demographic, giving their support to the Labour and Green Parties. The Green party were indeed the only party to make some noise about this issue, probably because they thought it likely that they would pick up a high proportion of the student vote. Bertie Ahern visited Maynooth last Friday, stopping off at the Manor Mills shopping centre, but he failed to stop into the largest point of congregation in Maynooth, the University. Obviously Mr.Ahern was wary of a hostile reception from disgruntled students, in fact several groups were trying to locate the Taoiseach to question him on his support for the proposed M3 motorway beside the Tara-Skryne valley following the find of what is described as a ‘national monument’.

The reaction from various students Unions and organisations has hardly been exemplary. The NUIM students Union circulated an email to all students last week informing them how to place themselves on the electoral register and how to use a postal vote. There was no mention of the Thursday poll in the Union of Students of Ireland’s 2006/2007 report, making membership of the body even less desirable. The argument could be made that the announcement of the election came too close to exams to mount any resistance, but it is a lack of foresight on behalf of student leadership that made it difficult to counteract the ballot date. Bertie Ahern’s contention that a Thursday ballot would be favorable to him has been well known since early March. Even though the average student at this point has little time to protest, it is incumbent upon those elected to represent students full time to take action. Most that were elected by the students of Ireland were seemingly unconcerned or unaware of the severity of the situation.

If you think that a minority of students will be affected by Thursday voting, here are the departments with exams on the 24th of May, Ancient Classics, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, English, Geography, Mathematical Physics, Mathematics, Music and Sociology, totaling 17 exams in all. On Friday 25th of May there are another 17 exams, affecting 11 departments, many of whom had exams the previous day. This is a huge amount of students who will be unable to vote.

Fianna Fáil were not alone in this neglect of the student vote, both Fine Gael and, surprisingly, Labour (they tend to pick up a large amount of student votes) were remarkably silent. If they do not want student votes then they shall not receive them. I feel fortunate that I have no exam on the 24th and that I live in my own constituency.

Through an abortive combination of Government disregard and the inaction of student groups we have ourselves a mountain to climb without a leadership that exerts any control or will to break with the status quo and do more than simply send a letter or petition. With the weather so fine and the political blood up, why was there no call to arms in late March or early April? The answer is that there is no body to coordinate all of these students unions, the USI being largely an ineffective body. There is unity of students within College boundaries, but no further. Is t not the idea of a Union to draw all members with common aims together to petition with feet and action? It will be another five years or so before students will be given the choice to choose their Government again, will it be a different scenario next time around? Only if there is a shift in student politics away from business and towards united activism.