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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1990
SPECIAL EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO VOTE
THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE MAKING A SPECIAL EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO COME FORWARD AND EXERCISE THEIR ELECTORAL RIGHTS, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
PUBLICITY
THIS SPECIAL EFFORT WOULD BE PART OF A GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGN ON VOTER REGISTRATION IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR, SIR DAVID SAID IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON ROSANNA TAM.
HE EXPLAINED THAT AN ANALYSIS OF THE 1989 FINAL REGISTER OF ELECTORS REVEALED THAT, OVERALL, 43.9 PER CENT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE, HAD ACTUALLY REGISTERED.
"THE FIGURE FOR THOSE IN THE 21 TO 25 AGE GROUP IS ONLY 12
PER
CENT.
"THIS IS DISAPPOINTING,
HE ADDED.
SIR DAVID SAID A GOVERNMENT WORKING PARTY HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED VERY RECENTLY TO PLAN THE DETAILS OF THE VOTER REGISTRATION CAMPAIGN.
IT WOULD DRAW ON THE EXPERIENCE GAINED IN PREVIOUS VOTER REGISTRATION CAMPAIGNS, WHICH HAD ACHIEVED MOST SUCCESS IN REGISTERING ELECTORS THROUGH PERSONAL CONTACT.
"IN REGISTERING YOUNG ELECTORS, WE WILL THEREFORE BE CONTACTING YOUTH ORGANISATIONS, STUDENT BODIES AND INSTITUTES OF TERTIARY EDUCATION TO SEEK THEIR ASSISTANCE," HE SAID.
SIR DAVID POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS AN INCREASING AWARENESS IN THE COMMUNITY OF THE NEED TO MAKE THE 1991 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS A SUCCESS.
"WE WILL BE BUILDING ON THIS AND DOING ALL WE CAN TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE, INCLUDING YOUNG PEOPLE, TO REGISTER ELECTORS AND THEN TO VOTE IN THE ELECTIONS, HE ADDED.
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