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Sinn F\u00e9in has proposed lowering the voting age in Ireland to 16 in a bid to reform the electoral system.<\/p>\nSinn F\u00e9in has proposed lowering the voting age in Ireland to 16 in a bid to reform the electoral system.<\/p>\n
The party launched its document on electoral reform on Thursday, and said lowering the voting age is the pathway to participation for young and first-time voters.<\/p>\n
The document also proposes extending voting rights to those who have been resident in the state for more than five years.<\/p>\n
Party spokesman for youth affairs, Senator Fintan Warfield, said the government should not gate-keep voting registers and should allow as many people as possible to vote, opening Seanad elections to all.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis document really follows the Repeal the Eighth movement and identifies how Sinn F\u00e9in believe the state should engage young and first-time voters, and radical proposals to reform the electoral system,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe think that begins with a permanent electoral commission.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government has previously responded to electoral issues with commitment to create a permanent electoral commission yet we have not seen any development on that front.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe an electoral commission should oversee registration processes, registration processes should be national, should promote registration and collect data on the basis of age.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re also looking at electoral reform and lowering the voting age to 16 and 17 in all elections and extend voting rights to people have been resident in the state for over five years.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not good enough that we gate-keep the system, and Sinn F\u00e9in believe as many people as possible should be able to vote, that includes emigrants abroad, people in the north in presidential elections, people who have never voted in Seanad elections, who may not be citizens; they\u2019re entitled to vote.\u201d<\/p>\n
A number of Government reports have recommended the establishment of a permanent electoral commission to aid the democratic process.<\/p>\n
The Program for Government committed to establishing such a commission during its term of office but initially said it would not be ready for the 2016 election.<\/p>\n
Critics say the government has provided no firm details or timeline for establishing a commission.<\/p>\n
The Citizens\u2019 Assembly approved a number of proposals in January including 94% in favor of a permanent Electoral Commission.<\/p>\n
In May, Fianna Fail and the Green Party called on the government to establish a permanent electoral commission, saying it was urgently needed.<\/p>\n