Two elections are taking place in our constituency.

For Dublin, we are being asked to select our three candidates to represent the region in the European Parliament.

In Dublin Bay South we are being asked to pick fourteen people to represent our communities on Dublin City Council.

The purpose of this post is not to ask you to vote for a particular candidate or party (though of course I have my preference!), but to ask you to please do all that you can to make sure that your family and friends remember to go out and vote.

As you know, these elections are important, and so it is equally important that as many people as possible have their say and play their part in the democratic process. Every vote counts, particularly when it comes to local elections. As few as ten votes could be the difference between someone getting elected or missing out. You know ten people – you could make that difference.

It’s not easy to put yourself forward for election and I think we are fortunate to have such a strong selection of candidates standing across the constituency, and in Dublin, representing every party and none. They’ve done their part – now we have to do ours.

Polling booths open at 7am and close at 10pm. And while it would be helpful to have your voting card, a photo-ID licence or passport should suffice.

The very best of luck with your vote!

If someone you know still doesn’t think these elections are important, the following links may help change their minds;

– breakdown of how Dublin City Council spends your taxes

– what are the European elections all about?