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‘Make it a Saturday Bertie’ – SF 24.03.07

DONEGAL Sinn Féin election candidates have jointly called for the general election to be held on a Saturday to maximise the turnout on polling day.
Cllr. Padraig MacLochlainn and Cllr. Pearse Doherty said a Saturday would accommodate students, young people and those working away from home.
Both were reacting to the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern saying his preferred day would be a Thursday.
“Any arguments used against holding weekend elections in the past are now completely redundant considering the second referendum on the Treaty of Nice was held on a Saturday,” they said.
Pádraig MacLochlainn
“Sinn Féin would be happy to see a late May election date to avoid another clash with the Leaving Certificate as was the case in the 2004 local and European elections.”
Cllr. MacLochlainn added: “This would also ensure there is no clash with college exams in early to mid May. However, the least we should expect is that young voters and those working away from home would be accommodated by a Saturday election.”
Cllrs. MacLochlainn and Doherty also called for a longer polling time.
“Sinn Féin is proposing that polling stations remain open until 10pm to ensure the maximum turnout possible.”
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