Midweek polling in the abortion referendum will disenfranchise large sections of the electorate, youth leaders and the Opposition have claimed.
The National Youth Council of Ireland warned yesterday that the low turnout for the Nice referendum could be repeated in the March 6th poll if the date was not changed from Wednesday to Saturday.
"Midweek polling discriminates against students and workers commuting long distances who are unable to return to their constituencies during the week," said council president, Mr James Doorley.
"If we are in earnest about trying to encourage maximum voter turnout, then every effort must be made to make voting convenient for the electorate."
Fine Gael's social and community affairs spokesman, Mr Brian Hayes TD, also called for Saturday voting, and criticised the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, for failing to take into account the living and working patterns of the electorate.
He said workers travelling long distances to their jobs had little time to make it to the polling booth when they got home, while those living away from home during the week faced greater difficulties.
"Saturday voting would also encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Tens of thousands of college students living away but registered in their home constituencies would have a clear opportunity to cast their votes if voting took place on Saturday."
The NYCI said the last by-election in South Tipperary, held on a Saturday, had a 3 per cent higher turnout than the previous by-election, held on a Tuesday.
Mr Doorley said the abortion referendum presented an opportunity to see if a similar improvement on the 37 per cent Nice poll turnout could be achieved in advance of the general election.
"Weekend voting works in many European countries and should be tried here," he said.
Fine Gael added that Saturday polling would ensure that no more school days were lost while balloting took place.