The turnout in Thursday's election could plunge to the lowest in the history of the State, it was claimed today.
The number of citizens casting their ballots has plummeted by tens of thousands of voters over the past 20 years from 74 per cent in 1982 to only 63 per cent in 2002.
Ireland has one of the worst voter turnouts among young people in Europe and the Rock The Vote campaigners believe a Thursday poll will not help this situation.
"Many students are doing finals and won't be able to get home to vote if they live elsewhere," said Rock The Vote executive director Patrick Cosgrave.
Mr Cosgrave added: "We never had so many people in the 18-24 age bracket, and they make up a large chunk of the electorate now. I would be massively surprised if we don't drop below the 60 per cent turnout level."
Only 25 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds in Ireland voted in the last election, compared with 80 per cent in Sweden.
Last year's €12 million overhaul of the electoral register by the Government may not be enough to stem the decline.
But Trinity College politics expert Prof Michael Marsh believes there is more public interest in the current general election compared to previous polls.
"There is more engagement but the accuracy of the electoral register will be key to turnout," Prof Marsh, who is compiling the biggest ever study of voter behaviour, added.
"Many people believe that there are still tens of thousands of names listed twice and others who should be on it and aren't listed."
In 2002, the highest turnout was 73.36 per cent in Cork North West and the lowest was 51.96 per cent in Dublin South Central.