On May 25, Ireland will vote whether to repeal or retain the eighth amendment.
Just in case you weren’t aware.
If you were aware though, you’ve probably noticed a lot of talk around the Yes campaign, referendum debates, and what will happen in the event of a Yes vote.
You’ve probably also seen a lot of talk about what needs to happen for the referendum to be won.
Basically, a load of different things – a focus on education is one, a need for compassion when voting is another – but another is involvement from people on the ground.
If you want to get involved in the Yes campaign, or if you feel like you could do a bit more and don’t know where to begin, here are a few ideas to get you started.
1. Canvas your area
Canvassing may seem scary at first, but once you’re there you’ll be totally grand.
Our amazing team of volunteers just before heading out to canvas Castletroy! We broke our own personal record for knocking on doors and got a super positive response #togetherforyes #repealthe8th #canvastroy pic.twitter.com/wjUfBHm4Hg
— Limerick Together For Yes (@REPEAL_LK) April 17, 2018
You’ll be prepped, you’ll be paired with someone who has canvassed before, and you’ll be doing a solid in terms of spreading factual information about the referendum.
If you want to sign up for canvassing you can input your details here and the Together for Yes campaign will put you in touch with your nearest group.
Similarly, details about canvassing in your area can be found on Facebook and Twitter – just search the name of your area alongside ‘canvassing’ and the relevant information should come up.
Most nights, Twitter is awash with people urging others to come out and canvas for the first time.
As well as this, if you see a group out canvassing, ask if you can be added to their list or see where their next stall is going to be.
2. Attend meetings and visit stalls
Birr saw a great team out and the Swords stall was delighted with the gingerbread men delivered by a kindly supporter. We must give special mention to Jake the Dog for Yes in Macroom. #together4yes pic.twitter.com/RUTnwPyun4
— Together for Yes (@Together4yes) April 28, 2018
Meetings are one of the best ways to meet other people from the campaign, educate yourself, and actually just learn a little bit more about the referendum if you need to.
Information about meeting locations and times can be found on posters dotted around your area, on Facebook groups, or on Twitter.
Similarly, a list of upcoming Abortion Rights Campaign information stall locations can be found here.
3. Go to some fundraising events
There are legit too many fundraising events happening over the next few weeks to list them all here, but here are a couple that have been sent our way.
Go along, have a bit of craic, and show your support.
There’s a Together for Yes run/jog/walk happening on May 16 to raise money for the campaign, there’s a gig called Repeal Aid happening in Dublin this Friday, and a Repeal Project event going on in the Olympia tomorrow night.
A list of further events in the lead up to the referendum can be found here.
4. Wear jumpers, T-shirts, and badges
Or all three at the same time, whatever you’re into.
Not only does the money made from most repeal jumpers, T-shirts and the likes go directly towards the Abortion Rights Campaign or the Together for Yes campaign, but you’ll also basically be a walking Yes poster.
Which, you know, you may or may not want to be depending on how you feel about that sort of thing, but it’s an option.
Repeal jumpers are currently back in stock, while Uterus Prime jumpers and T-shirts, and a variety of repeal merch from The Hunreal Issues are currently on sale.
5. Donate some money
See all those Together for Yes posters that have sprung up over the past few weeks? They’re all thanks to donations.
The Together for Yes campaign, and many other groups also taking a pro-repeal stance, operate mainly through volunteers and donations.
A few weeks back, the Yes campaign crowdsourced over €500,000 to go towards all the posters you’re currently seeing about the place.
So if you can afford to donate a bit of money to the campaign, you can do so here, here, or here.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiO2eEYg3z4/?tagged=togetherforyes
6. Talk to people
Having a bit of a chat with people you know is probably the easiest way you can do your bit ahead of the referendum.
Talk to your friends, family, coworkers, that lad you shifted one time in Coppers in 2014 – you might be surprised what they tell you.
Or not… but either way, you may as well do it.
So @JamesKavanagh_ stopped by our Headquarters today to remind you all to https://t.co/INqAbME2nz and make sure you can vote. You need to have your RFA 2 form in by May 8th #register4yes pic.twitter.com/vITXq6MPEA
— Together for Yes (@Together4yes) April 25, 2018
7. Vote
Probably the most important thing anybody can do to support the repeal of the eighth amendment is to vote on May 25.
And in order to vote, you need to make sure you’ve registered.
Next week is the last week you can get yourself onto the register too so to make sure that you’re definitely on it you can either go to checktheregister.ie or contact you local county council.
Full details about registering to vote can be found here.
Feature image via Together for Yes Twitter.
