Thousands of young people will be voting for the first time on 29 November, and Ceylan Dilmac is one of them.
Ceylan turned 18 last August. She registered to vote last night. She is very excited at the prospect of casting her ballot for the first time on 29 November.
"I'm actually buzzing," the 6th year school student at Ardscoil Mhuire in Limerick city told RTÉ News.
"It’s just mad to think that I get to pick the person I want to see elected."
Ceylan says she and her friends have been talking about elections in school, and watching the American presidential election play out.
"Obviously with the US election, we’ve been thinking, our vote could make such a difference."
Ceylan registered to vote last night. Next Tuesday, 12 November is the deadline for any other first-time voters to get on the register.
It is also the deadline for anyone who needs to update their details, such as their address.
"It’s really important that students get their voices heard," said Chris Clifford, President of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI).
"A lot of [third level] students think there is no point because nothing will change. But things won’t change unless you vote," he said.
USI has been travelling to third-level campuses across the country for the past year, with a 'Spin the Wheel' roadshow, offering students who can prove they are on the electoral register (or who join the register there and then) a chance to spin the wheel and win such coveted items as Penney’s vouchers, sweets, household essentials such as boxes of teabags, or a 'mystery' prize.
The idea originated with the Student Union at Atlantic Technological University’s Letterkenny campus.
Welfare and Equality Officer there, Áine Hatzer, says this year's Fresher’s Week Spin the Wheel event led to 197 students registering to vote.
Across the country USI reckons that more than 6,000 students signed up as a result of the roadshow.
The Electoral Commission is encouraging everyone to check the register now at checktheregister.ie. You will need your Eircode and your PPS number.
It is one thing registering to vote, but how do you figure out who to vote for?
USI is running workshops to inform students about how Irish politics and voting works, and why each individual vote matters.
They will also look at the priorities and policies of the different political parties.
The workshops are on 21 November at 6pm and 22 November at 12pm. More details can be found at USI.ie.
For the political parties and others who will be vying for a Dáil seat in this election, the young first-time voter is a very special and important person indeed.
Politicians go out of their way to court them. Why? Because they are the future.
Ceylan Dilmac's excitement is well-placed then, and it feels infectious.
Of voting on 29 November, Ceylan says: "It's just mad. It's going to be really fun".
