An Coimisiún Toghcháin, Ireland’s independent electoral commission has presented the inaugural Democracy and Elections Award at the Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (Stripe YSTE) exhibition to a team of three from Boyne Community School in Trim, Co. Meath. The Boyne Community School trio won the award for their project entitled “Emoji Politics” which focused on how the use of informal language affects young people’s perceptions of politics.
An Coimisiún’s Research Programme 2024-2026 places collaboration and research partnerships at its core. The Stripe YSTE is an ideal opportunity to nurture and recognise excellent research which helps gain a deeper understanding of democracy at a time of considerable global challenge. An Coimisiún met with thousands of young people at its stand over the three days of the exhibition, and held a mock ballot to show young people how to vote and to encourage 16 and 17 year old’s to pre-register for voting to be eligible to vote on their 18th birthdays.
An Coimisiún’s National Election & Democracy Study (NEDS) of the 2024 General Election found that the 18–34-year-olds surveyed made up the biggest cohort of eligible voters (68%) who weren’t registered to vote and therefore did not have their say in the most recent General Election. An Coimisiún is determined to build awareness among students, teachers and parents that young people can pre-register when they’re 16 and 17 years old by visiting www.CheckTheRegister.ie and then they will be automatically added to the register once they turn 18.
Art O’Leary, Chief Executive of An Coimisiún Toghcháin stated: “These three students from Trim who have become the first ever winners of this Elections and Democracy Award – and the many young people like them across the country – are the future custodians of Ireland’s democracy. In their hands lies the strength of our democratic institutions, the level of public trust we enjoy, and the resilience of our shared civic life. Democracy is not a given; it is a living experiment. Like every great experiment celebrated at the Young Scientist Exhibition, it demands curiosity, care and sustained effort if it is to succeed.
“The inaugural Democracy and Elections Award recognises and celebrates the most creative and impactful thinking on democratic engagement, electoral participation, integrity and infrastructure. It reflects our commitment to nurturing innovation and research on elections and democracy at every stage of education, and it builds on the positive momentum created by the introduction of Politics and Society to the curriculum in recent years.”
Photo above: David Kincius, Jack Turner and Kipras Samoska of Boyne Community School, Co Meath are awarded their Democracy and Elections Award by Dr. Mary Clare O’Sullivan the Head of Electoral Integrity and Research, An Coimisiún Toghcháin at this year’s Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition. Photo credit Fennell Photography.
