Drive to boost election turnout

A new campaign launches today to explain the vital role of our 11 councils and to encourage people to vote in the local government elections on Thursday, May 2.
By The Newsroom
Published 4th Apr 2019, 00:05 BST
Updated 5th Apr 2019, 08:12 BST
Still image from the Young Person Animated Campaign video aiming to get more people to vote in council electionsStill image from the Young Person Animated Campaign video aiming to get more people to vote in council elections
Still image from the Young Person Animated Campaign video aiming to get more people to vote in council elections

Spearheaded by the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA), informative, short animation pieces focus on the real-life experiences of four individuals, why they believe that voting in the council elections is important and what they hope to see as a result of using their vote.

Among the participants sharing their views and experiences are the Founder and Director of ArtsEkta, Nisha Tandon OBE, a NOW Group participant, a young voter and a parent.

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The NOW Group is a social enterprise based in Belfast supporting people with learning difficulties and autism into jobs with a future.

Letter to the editorLetter to the editor
Letter to the editor

The campaign emphasises that voting is accessible for everyone who is eligible and addresses some barriers surrounding the voting process that might have previously discouraged people from exercising their right.

The local government elections are the first standalone council elections since 1993 and the first election to councils for a full term since the reform of local government in 2015.

Your votes will return 462 councillors for a four-year term across all of the 11 council areas in Northern Ireland.

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The last local government election, which took place in May 2014, saw only 51% of the electorate use their vote.

Councils across Northern Ireland oversee and deliver leisure, waste management, arts, employment and skills, community investment and local development plans – services for today and future generations.

It is imperative that we all use our vote and participate in what’s to come for the places in which we work, live and play.

Councils are currently the only democratically elected functioning body in Northern Ireland, so taking the opportunity to vote for their existing and future services, like City Deals, is very important for democracy and local communities.

Voting must be a positive experience for everyone.

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This campaign is about encouraging people to know that voting is accessible for all and that help is available for those who need it.

Let’s use these elections to give choice, voice and control to communities, through councils.

Derek McCallan

Chief Executive of NILGA

Related topics:Northern IrelandBelfast