Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
Mock The Vote
Here's what happened when a group of children held an election today
The children of Craggagh NS cast their ballots today. Here’s how it went…
THE CHILDREN OF Craggagh NS, a three-teacher school halfway between Kiltimagh and Balla in Mayo, went to the ballots earlier.
With voting not commencing in the local elections until tomorrow, the candidates for the Castlebar ward of Mayo County Council were put under a microscope by the school kids.
Polls opened, and people flocked to them:
That’s not to say that it wasn’t tense:
Someone wanted to send a message:
By the time the first count came in, two people were elected by Returning Officer Clara, whose grandfather was the Mayo Returning Officer.
Independent candidate Frank Durcan was in the area and checked in on the count.
Durcan had some good news in an epic count, that went nine rounds.
The final standings:
And a message from the young voters:
Principal Danny Charlton says that the entire day was designed to explain the electoral system to students.
“We were teaching the children how our election system works from voting right through the the finer details of the proportional representation system of election.”
have your say