Ireland Election Canvass Ongoing: Deadline to Register and More Updates
Ireland election canvass is ongoing and every member of the political party is trying his best to get votes out of every city and state.
Deadline to register
Although the elections are on 29 November 2024 and the election campaigns have just started, there still is time for the citizens to vote.
The deadline to register to vote is today, 12 November. It is easy to register yourself to be eligible to vote.
You can go to checktheregister.ie to check whether you are already registered or even if you are not, you can do that easily through your phone. You only have to be 18 years old and are a British or Irish citizen, you are eligible.
Voters’ decision before Ireland election canvass or on election day?
Based on the 2020 RTE Exit Poll, it was 8 per cent of the voters who decided to vote for their favourite party on the election day.
44 per cent of the voters were those who had made up their minds during Ireland election canvassing. According to the survey results, half of the respondents were those who had decided their first preference before even the elections were announced.
It was estimated that last-minute decision-making was strong when it came to local and European Parliament elections.
The results from the National Election and Democracy Study, 20 per cent of the respondents decided about their first preference during the last 24 hours of the local elections in Ireland.
A higher percentage was observed for European Parliament elections. 28 per cent of the respondents decided only one day before the final election day.
Teachers became the highlight of general elections in Ireland
Teachers have become the talk of the town after Ryanair CE Michael O’Leary said that teachers might not be good decision-makers when it comes to politics. He said this statement at a Fine Gael campaign when he was standing to influence voters to cast ballots for the said party.
Campaigns from teachers’ unions and the need for special children were initiated soon after this statement. They are campaigning for the best party to win and have contacted the representatives on their own.
Even a great number of students have now registered themselves for voting. The real question is whether they would actually vote.
The basic issue the students are concerned about is the housing crisis, and they want the best capable party to come forward that they believe would find a solution for the accommodation problems.
Would voting take place in schools?
The Chief Executive of An Coimisiun Toghchain said that voting in schools has been a prominent part of the constituency of any returning officer.
He elaborated that the entire country would have 5,500 polling stations and the venues will be selected on location, access and cost.
Further, he explained that even the 2 per cent of the voters would make a huge difference. It makes around 60,000 voters, which is a big number for any constituency.
He said, “There is no easy answer to this”.
The Sinn Fein President danced while canvassing
Mary Lou McDonald, the Sinn Fein president danced while canvassing for the upcoming Irish elections. It was during her meeting with the TikToker Helen Drum of Sound Quality Gifts outlet in Monaghan town.
On the other hand, Simon Harris also accepted the challenge to jive at the same shop with the same shopkeeper while he was canvassing for the elections.
She told Simon Harris that “you’re not bad at all” and should be in the rhythm before Ireland’s biggest event.
Micheal Martin is canvassing for the elections too
Tanaiste Micheal Martin is canvassing in Douglas Village in Cork. He was speaking to the media at the shopping centre when he said,
“There is a need for substantially more gardaí on the streets, Fianna Fáil plans to expand the gardaí force by 5,000, that would be the largest expansion ever in the history of An Garda Síochána”.
The Fianna Fail leader also spoke about the discoloured water issue in Cork City. He admitted that handling of the matter had been “too slow”. He ensured that water supply of clean water would remain the priority of the region and would be a “key feature of the allocation”.
Mr Martin also canvassed three more constituencies on Saturday and made several appearances in Cork South Central.
Simon Harris says Ireland election canvass will be both online and on doorsteps
When Taoiseach Simon Harris was canvassing for votes in Carnew Mart, County Wicklow, he emphasised that the fight for votes would be online and even on the doorstep with equal force.
For the past ten years, the internet and social media have shaped the way elections take place, along with all the other activities of everyone’s lives.
Irish people spend one to two hours, on average, on social media each day. Hence, the massive possibility of canvassing online is not neglected, Simon Harris assured.
He believes that this would provide unlimited access to people, even if the doorstep policy is not catered to thoroughly. The Internet would provide the party with a chance to reach even those people who might get missed otherwise.
Telecom companies ask for a better infrastructure
Since Simon Harris has been stressing to conduct canvassing via online and door-to-door means, telecom companies are now demanding better infrastructure and addressing the blockages in the planning process.
Telecommunications Industry Ireland (TII) said that technology has been outdated for the last 28 years and enormous changes have been in demand since 1996.
The director of TII, Torlach Denihan said,
“Modern telecommunications infrastructure is the backbone of Ireland’s digital future and growth”.
Green Party leader has a point
Green Party leader, Roderic O’Gorman says that words don’t count, actions matter the most. He believes that the actions of the Green Party would make mountains move and this is what people are looking for.
He pointed out the results that people would see if the Green Party came out as the winners; for example, €10 billion in funding for a “supercharge” transport in Ireland would be made, €200 million in funding for climate and energy projects, building 50-53,000 new homes every year to cater to the housing crisis and many more projects that are in the pipeline, O’Gorman described.
FAQs
1. When is the election day for the upcoming Ireland general election?
- The election day is scheduled for 29 November 2024.
2. What is the deadline to register to vote?
- The registration deadline is today, 12 November 2024.
3. How can I check if I am registered to vote?
- You can check your registration status at checktheregister.ie. If you’re not registered, you can easily complete the process online.
4. Who is eligible to vote?
- To be eligible, you must be 18 years old and an Irish or British citizen.
5. What percentage of voters decide their vote on election day?
- Based on the 2020 RTE Exit Poll, 8% of voters make their decision on election day, while 44% decide during the canvassing period.
6. Where will voting take place?
- Voting will be conducted at 5,500 polling stations across the country, with venues chosen based on accessibility, location, and cost.
7. Will schools be used as polling stations?
- Yes, schools have traditionally served as polling stations in many constituencies, depending on the local returning officer’s decisions.
