FINE GAEL MEP Jim Higgins has urged people to ensure that they are on the electoral register for next year’s European and local elections.

Speaking to Karen Coleman for EP Radio, the MEP said “if you’ve got no vote, you’ve got no voice” and encouraged people to register and go to the polls this summer.

Higgins continued:

Whether it’s the local county council office, the local Post Office, the local garda station, get your name on the register ad at least participate in the democratic process, that’s what it’s all about. We fought long and hard for our democracy, for our freedom so participate in it.

The elections are due to be held this summer and the competition for European seats is likely to be fierce with the parliament approving a plan to cut our MEP numbers from 12 to 11 earlier this year.

A survey last week revealed that more than 90 per cent of people in Dublin can’t name any one of their three MEPs. One person surveyed answered sincerely that they believed German chancellor Angela Merkel was an MEP.

• Listen to Jim Higgins in full.

Related: European Parliament approves plan to cut Ireland from 12 MEPs to 11>

Read: Can you name one of your local MEPs? 91 per cent of Dubliners can’t>

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