Call For Young Voters To Register

Young people in Northern Ireland have been urged to stand-up and exercise their democratic right to vote, by Sinn Fein Minister Caitríona Ruane.

The Schools Minister was speaking at the launch of Electoral Registration Week 2008.

This year, the Electoral Commission aims to boost the number of young people registering to vote through a "Schools Initiative".

The initiative will see schools playing an active role in encouraging young people to become eligible to vote.

Ms Ruane said: "It is a vital part of the democratic process that everyone should take the opportunity of registering to vote.

"Being on the electoral register is not about party politics; everyone who is eligible to vote should register and have their say on how we are governed.

The Mourne MLA said she has seen first hand the importance of democracy and voting.

"In 1994 I was an international observer in South Africa when the first free and fair elections where held," said Ms Ruane.

"At that time millions of black people who had previously been denied the right to vote elected Nelson Mandela as President.

"Across the world there have been many campaigns and struggles to bring the right to vote to people and it is important this opportunity is not lost."

(PR/JM)