Falling voter turnout at elections is a serious issue and needs addressing.
That's according to Co Cavan Councillor, Stiofan Conaty who raised the issue at the most recent sitting of Cavan County Council.
He said it was clear to him that we have a problem in this state with participation in the democratic process.
The local Sinn Fein councillor said fines were discussed and intensified campaigns of publicity were proposed when he raised the issue following the local elections last June.
Cllr Conaty said from listening to people in his community and those of his generation, he is of the opinion that low turn out can be attributed chiefly to voter apathy and disillusionment with a political system which is seen,
rightly or wrongly, as backing the interests of the few rather than the many.
Speaking to solutions, he firmly believes that Automatic Voter Registration is the way to go. If it is actually the case that the powers-that-be want everyone to vote, then he cannot understand the reasoning behind asking people to physically register.
