AN urgent call has been made for Kerry’s British-born community to make their vote count in the   upcoming UK referendum on EU membership.

European Movement Ireland has launched the ‘Post Your Vote’ Appeal. There are 10,362 British-born citizens in Kerry and they are asked to post their vote this weekend to ensure it arrives by the deadline on referendum day which is 10pm on June 23.

“British people in Ireland have been registering to vote by post or by ‘proxy’. Today we’re urging those living in Kerry to post their vote this weekend, to ensure it arrives by the deadline which is 10pm on 23 June.  If they have appointed a trusted person to be their proxy, we are asking them to remind that family member or friend to make sure they vote next Thursday on their behalf,” said Noelle O’Connell, Executive Director of European Movement Ireland.

This latest reminder is part of European Movement Ireland’s #PhoneAFriend campaign, which aims to encourage both British citizens living in Ireland and Irish people in Britain to vote in the UK’s EU referendum this day week.

“It is worth noting that an estimated 230,000 English, Scottish and Welsh people live here in Ireland and that many of them are eligible to vote in the upcoming referendum”, added Ms O Connell.

“With the polls showing ever closer margins between the ‘Remain’ and ‘Leave’ camps, we are urging the 10,362 British people who live in Kerry to take part in this once in a generation choice.”

“While European Movement Ireland is not advocating how people should vote, we are strongly of the belief that a European Union without the UK as a member would be bad for Ireland, bad for Europe and bad for the UK itself.   Everyone will of course accept the final decision of the UK electorate next Thursday, but we hope that all of those who are eligible to vote will do so.  It’s vital that they have their say on the day about a decision which affects so many people now and in the future,” concluded Ms O’Connell.