Exit poll suggests no big shift in young attitudes

Mark Little
Prime Time

Looking through the exit poll, I am struck by a lack of any dramatic shift in the political attitudes of young people, at least in the European elections.

In the Euros, the poll finds the Fianna Fáil vote among 18 to 24 year olds is exactly the same as the overall level (in the local elections, it’s actually 1% higher!)

Slightly less young people vote for Fine Gael and - perhaps surprisingly - Labour doesn’t do as well with 18 to 24 years as other age groups. 14% of youth voters plumped for a Labour candidate in the Euros compared to an overall Labour vote of 16% (although the youth vote matched the overall result in the local election exit poll).

All that said, there is definitely an anti-establishment current running among youth voters. Sinn Féin and Libertas are significantly more popular among 18 to 24 years olds in the Euros.

And they are far less enthusiastic about Lisbon two than other age groups. 43% of 18 to 24 years were in favour of Lisbon and 39% against it.