Electoral Commission brings voter registration drive to Dundalk IT

An Coimisiún Toghcháin, Ireland’s independent electoral commission, will today be visiting the Dundalk Institute of Technology campus to work alongside Louth County Council electoral register staff in encouraging students to register and vote in this year’s Presidential election on 24 October.

An Coimisiún’s National Election & Democracy Study (NEDS) of the 2024 General Election found that the 18–34-year-olds surveyed made up the biggest cohort of eligible voters (68%) who have yet to register and so missed the chance to vote in the most recent election.

After meeting thousands of young people at Electric Picnic in August and at the Ploughing last week, An Coimisiún’s college registration and information drive is a further opportunity to meet young people where they are, and to encourage them to use their voice to choose Ireland’s next President after Michael D. Higgins.

An Coimisiún staff will be on campus in Dundalk IT (outside the Whitaker theatre in  the Whitaker building) on Wednesday 24 October from 10am as part of Freshers Week where they will be answering questions about voting and encouraging students to register at checktheregister.ie before the 7 October deadline.

In addition, students registered at their home who are living elsewhere while attending an educational institution in the State are eligible to apply for a postal vote before the deadline of 29 September. 

Art O’Leary, Chief Executive of An Coimisiún Toghcháin stated:

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“Already during this Presidential election campaign we have met so many young people who are engaged, interested and want to use their votes to decide who will be our next President but who had questions about registration and voting.

“Dundalk IT students may not be aware that if they are away from their registered home address on polling day because of college, they can still apply to move their vote or apply for a postal vote.”

“Roughly 60,000 young people have turned 18 since the last general election and many of them are now college freshers. We look forward to meeting them and registering them to vote in their first ever election.”