There are 158,024 18-24 year olds in Northern Ireland, if everyone voted the same way, we have sufficient votes to elect one of the three MEPs!! The European elections are being held on June 10th across Northern Ireland and once again the politicians are asking for your vote. But what are you voting for, what does Europe do for young people in Northern Ireland, what do politicians do for Northern Ireland in Europe? Why vote at all? While we take it for granted now that everyone who is over 18 and on the register can vote, this was not always the case. Women were only granted the vote here in 1918 and even then you still had to be over 30! This came after a fifty year campaign by women which resulted in women being force fed in prison when they went on hunger strike and one woman, Emily Davidson, was killed when she threw herself under the king s horse to highlight the issue. In Northern Ireland up until the late 1960s only those who owned their own house were allowed to vote, this was changed following the civil rights movement s campaign for a vote for all.
Europe has played a key influencing role in Northern Ireland, much of our equality law such as not being allowed to discriminate against someone because of their sexuality or age came from Europe not Westminster. The environmental regulations such as targets on air pollution, water pollution and landfill waste have resulted in the provision of recycling points, the development of renewable energy and heavier fines for those who pollute our waterways. Again these have been forced upon government by Europe and it is unlikely that local government would have tackled them otherwise because of the perceived cost. The European Union has funding programmes which support societies in conflict, minority groups, student exchanges, tackles gender imbalances and discrimination against those with disabilities.
The European Union recognised the particular impact that the conflict had on Northern Irish society and has given £400million through the Peace & Reconciliation programme. This money has been used to fund youth and community based projects, enterprise initiatives, rural development and promote tourism. (This website has been funded through this programme.) Funds from Europe have also supported the building of new roads, improving the rail infrastructure and even increasing the number of airlines operating out of here. The theory behind supporting member states with financial aid is to improve the employability of citizens, encourage stability and co-operation, generate jobs and income and thus make them more likely to be in a better position to buy things made in other member states.
On May 1st ten new countries became members and much of the media has responded with concerns about a tidal wave of immigrants coming here to work. While there is no doubt that many people will take advantage of being able to work here legally without a visa, the reality is that Northern Ireland has a labour shortage in many areas. Legal migrants contribute to the economy, they pay tax, they rent housing and they use local services. In addition these ten new countries have 75 million people which increases the market for Northern Ireland products.
It s important that our political representatives act in Europe for all of Northern Ireland and that this region is promoted as a progressive region which can contribute to the growing European Union. This election is a Northern Ireland wide vote with each political party putting forward one candidate as well as any independent candidates who are standing. There are three seats up for grabs and the election will be run on a Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, where voters can put 1,2,3 etc in order of preference. People must be already on the register to vote and have valid photographic ID, you can check with the Electoral Commission to find out if you are eligible. Remember that if you completed the electoral form last October with your term time address, this is where your polling card will be delivered to and will state the local polling station at which you must cast your vote. You can vote in three ways
- turn up on June 10th at your local polling station with your polling card and photographic ID
- submit a postal vote (this must be applied for by May 20th and is aimed at people who will be abroad on June 10th, will find it difficult to get to a polling station because they are incapacitated, working, in hospital etc). However this may be useful if your polling card is going to be delivered to an address you no longer live at, e.g. term time.
- submit a proxy vote (this allows someone to cast a vote on your behalf) See the Citizenship section on this website.
As a project which promotes citizenship and action we believe that one of the most effective ways that young people can have our say is at the ballot box. If, like many young people you are fed up with politicians, remember those who don t vote are even more responsible for the politicians we get because you are the people who could have made the difference. We encourage all young people to use your vote. Who you vote for is your choice - here are links to information on candidates to help you make sure it s an informed one.
Candidates which have declared at the time of going to press
Allister, Jim - Democratic Unionist Party www.dup.org.uk
De Brun, Barbara - Sinn Fein www.sinnfein.ie
Gilliland, John - Independent www.gilliland1.org
McCann, Eamonn -Socialist Environmental Alliance http://seaderry.co.uk/cgi-bin/index.pl
Morgan, Martin - Socialist Democratic Labour Party www.sdlp.ie
Nicholson, Jim - Ulster Unionist Party www.uup.org
Perry, Marie - Green Party www.greens-in.org/tiki-index.php
Websites
http://www.votesforwomen.org.uk - history of suffragette movement
http://www.electoralofficeni.gov.uk/faq/euroelection2004faqs.asp - useful website of questions relating to voting in the EU elections
www.secureyourvote.com - information on where you can get photographic ID
http://www.europarliament.net - profiles all MEPs and includes information on voting records
http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/fe04.htm - Queen s University site which has information on past elections and profiles current contenders
