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None of the Above / Positive Abstention

  • 15-06-2013 2:33pm
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 1


    In Iran, opening hours for polls in this weeks elections had to be extended by five hours to accommodate the demand of electors to cast their vote. This, in a country where all candidates for the presidency have to be approved by a religious leader.

    In western democracies, Ireland included, turnout is regularly low. Turnout for referendums is often drastically so. Voter apathy may be a reason but, generally, if you talk to people about political issues they can be quite opinionated. Why don't people vote? One explanation is that they re disillusioned with the process and feel that they can't influence change.

    The provision of a 'None of the Above' option, where electors are given the option to register a vote but not choose a candidate could be one way of re-engaging disillusioned voters and making politicians more responsive.

    MOD: FB link edited and infracted.


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