First Time Vote for Birthday Girl Ellen
Warrenpoint teenager Ellen Dinsmore is the only elector in Newry and Mourne to celebrate her 18th birthday on March 7, the same day as the upcoming Assembly elections.
Ellen, an A-Level pupil at Our Lady's Grammar School, is making sure that voting is top on her list of priorities. "Using your vote is crucial," argued Ellen. "There is no point criticising or complaining about the state of politics or society, if you aren't willing to get involved and go out and vote. "I plan to vote after school next Wednesday, before my birthday celebrations really get underway."
The Sociology and Classics student hails from a politically aware background with her father Liam employed as an official within Newry and Mourne District Council and her mother Catherine, a Politics lecturer in Newry Institute.
Despite her enthusiasm Ellen believes local politicians have failed to appeal to younger voters. "I still haven't made up my mind who to vote for," said Ellen. Explaining her hesitancy she said, "One of the problems is, you have to really search the papers and candidate's manifestos to find policies that appeal to young people like me who are going to vote for the first time. I want a politician who I can relate to and will campaign for the issues that matter to me."
If you, like Ellen, are voting for the first time, don't forget to take along your polling card as well as photographic identification. Valid forms of ill include a UK, Irish or other European Union passport, a UK driving or provisional licence, a Translink smartpass or an electoral identity card. Polling begins next Wednesday, 7 March, at 7 a.m. and will remain open until 10 p.m.
Reprinted from the Front Page of the Newry Reporter 1st March 2007
