People who do not vote in this week’s Presidential Election will “live to regret it”, a columnist has argued. 

In the last election, there six candidates - including Michael D Higgins - vying for the votes of the people. 

In 2011, there were seven and before that, in 1997, there were five to choose from. 

With Jim Gavin having withdrawn from campaigning, voters will have a choice of between left-wing independent Catherine Connolly or Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys. 

Social conservative Maria Steen failed to win the support of the 20 TDs and Senators needed to get on the ballot. 

On social media, some have urged those who feel unhappy with the choice available to them to #SpoilYourVote. 

On The Pat Kenny Show, Irish Examiner columnist and former Barnardos CEO Fergus Finlay urged all eligible citizens to cast a ballot. 

 “If you turned up at the polling station and your entrance was blocked by some fella in a suit who said to you, ‘You’re not needed, we’ll make the decision for you; you go home, have a cup of tea, take the day off’ - you’d be outraged,” he explained. 

“You’d be outraged if somebody tried to take your vote away from you. 

“So, why in the name of heavens would you agree to give your vote away? Because that’s what you’re doing.” 

Staff empty ballot boxes for the local and European elections in the RDS in Dublin. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov/© RollingNews.ie.

All Irish citizens living in the Republic, who are over 18 and registered to vote are entitled to vote. 

The next President will serve for at least seven years, unless she resigns or is impeached before 2032. 

However, there is no obligation for a Presidential Election to be held and some Presidents, such as Douglas Hyde and Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, were appointed without a contest. 

It all means this might be the last Presidential Election for some time. 

Áras an Uachtárain. Picture by: Alamy.com.

“It’s a bit of authority and a bit of power than you have,” Mr Finlay said. 

“I cannot in a democracy understand why anyone would give that up.

“I know the candidates on the ballot are not to everyone’s taste but we have a duty and a right and an obligation to vote. 

“If we start abandoning that right, we’ll live to regret it.” 

The 10th President of Ireland will be inaugurated next month.

Main image: Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys.