RTÉ: "Third-level alumni encouraged to register for new Seanad constituency"

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ClubMan

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Alumni urged to register for new Seanad constituency

Alumni from more than 15 designated institutions are being encouraged to apply to be included in the first Register of Electors for the new Seanad Higher Education Constituency ahead of tomorrow's registration deadline.
www.rte.ie www.rte.ie
Applications to be included in the first Register of Electors for the new constituency can be made online via www.seanadvoter.ie until tomorrow [Friday 24th January 2025].

If eligible voters miss tomorrow’s deadline to register for the Seanad Higher Education Constituency - they will not be able to apply again until the register reopens next year.
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Did anybody, such as the universities in question, even attempt to contact alumni in order to give them a heads up about this? I certainly didn't hear anything and my current address and other contact details are on file with the DCU (NIHED in my day) alumni association.
 
Three of my household are on the Trinity register. We were all contacted regarding applying for the new register. I've already received confirmation that my application was successful from seanadvoter.ie
Another of my household is a DCU graduate - he didn't receive anything.
 
Thanks - I was thinking more of people, like me - as a graduate of NIHED/DCU back in the 80s, who were not previously on the Seanad electoral register and are brand new to this system. I've just submitted my application but don't have a current passport so uploaded a picture of my most recent one which expired a few years ago. No idea if that will be a deal breaker...
 
I saw the advert on social media and applied online. My college (DCU) wouldn't have up to date details for me, so I wasn't expecting anything from them.
 
I've emailed DCU Alumni to ask them why they didn't contact people - they have my up to date contact details on file.
 
ClubMan said:
Thanks - I was thinking more of people, like me - as a graduate of NIHED/DCU back in the 80s, who were not previously on the Seanad electoral register and are brand new to this system. I've just submitted my application but don't have a current passport so uploaded a picture of my most recent one which expired a few years ago. No idea if that will be a deal breaker...
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I registered a few weeks ago, same position as yourself, I was nui graduate late 90s but never registered for seanad election before. I haven't heard anything since so I doubt I will be registered in time for this election. I think they have to look through their degree records to match your degree to the person now registering, so that I would imagine is a slow process.

Also is it on their interests to register new members quickly , since that dilutes the vote of all those already on the register ?
 
Dr Strangelove said:
Seriously….how is DCU supposed to know with any precision where its graduates live four decades later?
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Seriously? If you actually read my posts you'd see that I already clearly stated that they have my current contact details on file. :rolleyes:
 
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There may well be a procedural problem with an Alumni office or association alerting the probable minority of alumni for whom they hold current details, if they are unable to alert everyone.

joe sod said:
Also is it on their interests to register new members quickly , since that dilutes the vote of all those already on the register ?
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Why would that be a concern for any third level institution?
 
T McGibney said:
Why would that be a concern for any third level institution?
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I was half joking but I doubt there would be huge motivation to get lots of new people registered since there could be a bit of exclusivity involved. If loads of new people are registered quickly then the usual type of liberal university senator might not get elected.
In any case the register is for future seanad elections not this one coming up
 
joe sod said:
I was half joking but I doubt there would be huge motivation to get lots of new people registered since there could be a bit of exclusivity involved. If loads of new people are registered quickly then the usual type of liberal university senator might not get elected.
In any case the register is for future seanad elections not this one coming up
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I'd count it as more likely that they'd be delighted with a bigger voter pool as that would confer more legitimacy and prestige on the Seanad seats on offer. Nobody would prefer to preside over anything resembling a pocket borough.
 
I think it's reasonable for colleges to write to the last known address. Even if the graduate no longer lives there, their parents might.
A candidate for the current Seanad seats rang my doorbell last night asking for the younger graduates by name and if they still live here. I wasn't impressed that he didn't ask for me too. If he had a list of names and addresses he should've known there are 3 votes here. We're inundated with 3 copies of all the leaflets and bumpf.
 
joe sod said:
I registered a few weeks ago, same position as yourself, I was nui graduate late 90s but never registered for seanad election before. I haven't heard anything since so I doubt I will be registered in time for this election. I think they have to look through their degree records to match your degree to the person now registering, so that I would imagine is a slow process.

Also is it on their interests to register new members quickly , since that dilutes the vote of all those already on the register ?
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New registration system is not for the current election, although it sounds like you were eligible to register on the old NUI system also - probably too late though, as ballots already went out.
 
I was contacted by UL Alumni and registered. Had to give my course details and college ID number. It was sorted within a week.
 
Dr Strangelove said:
GDPR is also thrown about willy nilly, but it almost certainly applies here.

People probably never provided their personal data consenting to being alerted to a new Seanad constituency.
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I provided my details to DCU for, among other things, receiving communications (including the occasional newsletter) from the Alumni department so they could easily (and perfectly legitimately within GDPR rules) have simply circulated an issue of the newsletter that apprised readers of the need to apply for inclusion on the new Seanad electoral register.
 
Mocame said:
I have never used my vote on the NUI panel, on principle because I don't think it is right that graduates get an additional vote non available to non graduates. This is simply wrong in my opinion.
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It's going to be slightly less wrong, as they're adding more universities' to the list of eligible voters.
 
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