A PROGRAMME to increase voter turnout, particularly among the disadvantaged and socially excluded, has been launched by a Vincentian group which campaigns for social justice.
The Vincentian Partnership for Justice announced details of the programme yesterday, which, it says, "aims to highlight the way voters really can use their vote to bring about the change they want in their communities".
"In our country there is an ever widening gap between people who have a lot and people who have a little," according to the co ordinator of the group, Sister Bernadette McMahon. "In those areas where people have a little, there is alienation and low voter turnout."
In the last general election there was a 67.46 per cent turn out, she said, which meant that three out of 10 voters did not vote. In Dublin South East the turnout was just 59.23 per cent, while in some areas within that constituency there were roads from which just three or four people voted.
The programme, which will involve workshops in communities throughout the State in the coming weeks, will focus on people who rarely vote.
It will encourage them to work out where they stand on issues such as drugs, unemployment, youth facilities, education and transport and then to "link your stance on issues - with particular candidates and to vote for people whose vision and purposes are most like your own".
The results from pilot programmes in five areas of Dublin had been "very positive and hopeful", she went on. The programme is non party political.
The workshop's importance and history of voting and how the proportional representation system works. It "provides techniques to evaluate election promises in light of the local and national needs identified as important by the voter"
It also explains how to assess whether politician candidates delivered on promises made in the past.
Speaking at the launch of the programme, the broadcaster Ms Olivia O'Leary said there were certain areas in which politicians did not canvass because they knew voter turnout was low. "If they know you don't vote, they don't have to bother canvassing your area and they don't have to deal with your problems. People who are excluded are disillusioned with the electoral process and are apathetic about voting", according to the partnership.
"As a result there is low voter turnout. On the other hand, people want to make informed decisions through increased understanding of social, economic and justice issues.
"Many also want to know how to choose candidates likely to represent their vision of a just society and to address the policy issues about which they are most concerned."
The Vincentian Partnerships for Justice consists of a group of people representing the Society of St Vincent de Paul, the Vincentian Congregation and the Daughters of Charity.
It was established last year, it says, "to work for change in the social and economic structures which cause poverty and injustice in Ireland today and seeks to continue the work of Frederick Ozanam, Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac".