As the 2024 US presidential election draws near, a surge of interest is being seen among Irish-Americans who are eligible to vote from abroad. The chair of Democrats Abroad Ireland, Patti Shields, attributes this uptick in interest to the nomination of Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate. Shields believes that Harris’ message of hope and positivity has resonated with Irish-Americans, many of whom are first-time voters. She cites an 83-year-old nun in Limerick who is seeking to exercise her right to vote for the first time, as an example of the renewed interest in voting from abroad.
According to Shields, the group has seen a 650 percent increase in requests about registering to vote, with thousands of people in Ireland eligible to cast their ballot in the election. To help these eligible voters, Democrats Abroad Ireland has launched several initiatives, including in-person events and online ballots. The group is working to engage with as many people as possible, emphasizing the importance of every vote, especially in light of the lack of access to voting stations abroad.
Kamala Harris (Image via Getty)
The excitement surrounding the Aer Lingus College Football Classic is also helping to drive interest in the election, with the group hosting a “Tailgate Kickoff” event in Dublin to coincide with the event. Shields believes that the Democratic Party’s emphasis on unity and positivity has resonated with voters, and sees women and youth as key factors in the election. “Women will be a huge factor,” she notes, “and the youth will be huge.”
The election will be watched closely by Irish-Americans, with many people following the outcome and eagerly anticipating the results. For Patti Shields, the work will not stop after September, as she believes that every vote counts, especially in battleground states like North Carolina. She will be returning to the US in October to work with the campaign for the second half of the election and will be home in Ireland on election day.
