AS THE REFERENDUM approaches, young emigrants are appealing to Ryanair to reduce their airfares ahead of the same sex marriage referendum to enable Irish people abroad to return home and have their say.

Get The Boat 2 Vote was launched in February and aims to encourage recent Irish emigrants to make their way home and cast their vote in the referendum.

Since it was launched, over 500 people have joined the campaign and pledged to make the journey home on May 22nd.

Yesterday the campaign published an open letter to Ryanair in which they appealed to the airline to consider offering discounted flights to emigrants hoping to return home and vote.

Under the 1963 Electoral Act, Irish people living abroad retain their right to vote in elections and referenda for 18 months after leaving Ireland.

However, as Ireland has no mechanism in place to enable people living abroad to vote, those wanting to cast their ballot must return home to do so, which is why the campaign has asked Ryanair to show its support.

The letter was shared widely across social media yesterday, but Ryanair has yet to directly respond to it. 

Joey Kavanagh, founder of the campaign, told DailyEdge.ie that the letter had once again highlighted Ireland’s strict eligibility criteria for voters abroad.

The letter has certainly drawn attention to fact that Ireland’s provisions for vote-eligible abroad are among the worst in Europe.

DailyEdge.ie has reached out to Ryanair for comment.

Previously: Irishman in London launches campaign encouraging ex-pats to ‘get the boat to vote’ in referendum >

Here’s how to add a ‘marriage equality’ message to your Facebook and Twitter pic >