The Youth Who Help Share Meath: Voices of the Future

The future of Meath’s civil society hinges on the participation and democratic investment of its younger citizens. The engine of our society—Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012—has often struggled to make the crucial connection between voting and the decisions that directly impact their lives. With almost 70% of unregistered voters under the age of 34, there is a significant push to ensure every eligible young voice is heard.This episode dives into the national perspective on engaging with this vital demographic, detailing efforts to modernize the electoral register and combat misinformation. We explore how digital platforms like TikTok are being used to reach future voters and highlight the local work happening to nurture young democratic interest.Joining host Elaine Keogh are Art O’Leary, the Chief Executive at the Electoral Commission, and the Meath County Council register of electors team members Sheila Sheridan and Sharon McElroy, who detail how young people are actively shaping their county.THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUTEngaging Gen Z and the voting challengeDigital engagement and pre-registration pushCombating electoral misinformation globallyMeath register team's role and data cleansingComhairle na nÓg's right to switch offQUOTESWe want everybody who's eligible to vote to be on the electoral register. - Art O'LearyPeople need to inform the registration authority about these changes... each person is responsible to ensure that they're registered to vote and that their information is up to date. - Sheila SheridanIf we write to you inviting you to verify your registration details, please don't ignore this request, as you risk being removed from the register… - Sharon McElroyKEYWORDS #YouthEngagement #VotingRights #ElectoralIntegrity #MeathDemocracy #RegisterCheckMORE INFORMATIONLocal government affects almost every aspect of our daily lives, yet many remain unsure how decisions are actually made. We dive into the delivery of over one thousand services and the vital role of your elected representatives. Discover how local democracy functions behind the scenes in Meath. Listen to the full episode. Search “Local Lens” on your podcast app now.Visit our website;  meath.ieThis podcast was produced by dustpod.io