Strategic Voting?

The Brigadier

I have been looking at the opinion polls throughout the runup to the elections.

I would normally vote for Gay Mitchell here, however it looks like he is going to get in on the 1st count.

I have instead looked at who I would NOT like to get in. Of all the candidates going for election I really don't want to see a Sinn Fein candidate elected. As a result I am voting for both Labour candidates simply to try and prevent Sinn Fein being elected.

I view it as the lesser of two evils. Is anyone else thinking on similar lines?

Villain

Originally posted by The Brigadier
I have been looking at the opinion polls throughout the runup to the elections.

I would normally vote for Gay Mitchell here, however it looks like he is going to get in on the 1st count.

I have instead looked at who I would NOT like to get in. Of all the candidates going for election I really don't want to see a Sinn Fein candidate elected. As a result I am voting for both Labour candidates simply to try and prevent Sinn Fein being elected.

I view it as the lesser of two evils. Is anyone else thinking on similar lines?

Yep I'l vote SF then Labour then FG to stop FF continuing their lies.

Töpher

I'll vote for anyone 'cept the Turkey (FF).

The Brigadier

Who is the turkey? Goin Eoin? or Royston?

Has anyone seen the poster of Eoin with his big beeming face....and thought....he doesn't look like that!!

The Rooster

You might be better voting for Green Brigadier, as one Lab will defo get in, in any event?

Though I suppose the 2 Labs and the Green in your top 3 would do the trick, with Mitchell 4 in case he doesnt get over the line as quick as you thought he might.

I'm finding it hard to put the 3 left wing candidates in order.

Raskolnikov

I'll be engaging in a bit of tactical voting myself to prevent the South election candidate, Kathy Sinnott from getting in.

For the local elections I intend on putting the Green party candidate as my first preference, followed by a FG'er and then a Sinn Feiner. I was also considering blowing off the whole idea of voting, none of Ireland's political parties come close to my ideals, ie, massive tax cuts, even at the expense of welfare and health and a significant reduction of government interference in citizen life.

therecklessone

Originally posted by The Rooster


I'm finding it hard to put the 3 left wing candidates in order.

3?

Frank Ross
Ivana Bacik
Joe Higgins
Mary Lou McDonald

Would McKenna fit in there as well?

I'm going for a no Royston and McDonald ticket myself, so its

1. Joe Higgins (for the protest don't ya know )
2. Ivana Bacik (best qualified of all the candidates, regardless of party affiliation)
3. Frank Ross (to make sure one of Lab gets in)
4. Patricia McKenna (part of the no McDonald strategy)
5. Eoin Ryan (though it pains me to vote FF, I really don't want that uneducated d*ck Brady getting in)

therecklessone

Originally posted by Raskolnikov
I was also considering blowing off the whole idea of voting, none of Ireland's political parties come close to my ideals, ie, massive tax cuts, even at the expense of welfare and health and a significant reduction of government interference in citizen life.

You should. Then head for the hills with an arsenal of assault rifles and a tinfoil hat...;)

Seriously though, I respect everyone's right to not vote (never went in for that "somebody died so you could have the vote" malarky), but if you do exercise that right then you lose the right to complain about our governement and local authorities.

Raskolnikov

Originally posted by therecklessone
You should. Then head for the hills with an arsenal of assault rifles and a tinfoil hat...;)

Seriously though, I respect everyone's right to not vote (never went in for that "somebody died so you could have the vote" malarky), but if you do exercise that right then you lose the right to complain about our governement and local authorities.

That's why I am voting. Green are my party of preference because they're radicals and the members (one of them was a former teacher of mine) are honest and principled in their ideals. Sinn Fein is getting my second vote merely as a protest vote and because the parties down here seem to have forgotten the North. The one FG'er who's getting my vote is because I've known him for years and he's done tons for the area.

Mighty_Mouse

I dunno. I think I'll only vote in a positive way. At the moment its SF accross the board and reject the referendum change.

ishmael whale

Originally posted by Mighty_Mouse
I think I'll only vote in a positive way ..... and reject the referendum change.

Einstein was doubly right - everything depends on the observer.

Victor

Originally posted by The Brigadier
I would normally vote for Gay Mitchell here, however it looks like he is going to get in on the 1st count. I have instead looked at who I would NOT like to get in. Of all the candidates going for election I really don't want to see a Sinn Fein candidate elected. As a result I am voting for both Labour candidates simply to try and prevent Sinn Fein being elected.

Then you need to vote in the order of "Gay Mitchell .... Labour1 .... Labour 2 .... Sinn Fein" If it comes down to it, Mitchell's excess will be transferred and if you have SF last and SF won't gain a vote from you.

Strategic voting isn't as important to our PR-STV as it is to the UK FPTP system.

The only meaningful strategic vote is where you want to boost the profile of a candidate or party that you know won't do well - Joe Bloggs who will only get 3%. In this case vote Joe Bloggs #1 and your next preferred #2. This provides Bloggs with a psycholigal boost (to himself, the voters and opponents) and increase the chance of him having his expenses paid, while at the same time having a solid back-up.

gandalf

Well the only strategic voting I will be taking part in is trying to make sure that Royston "The Twit" Brady and Mary Lou "Chuckie" are kept out of Europe.

Cork

I gave Ferris a pretty high preference the last time to encourange SF to committ themselves to democratic methods.

I am completely opposed to the IRA using baseball bats & Kangaroo Courts in NI. So, I will not be voting for their political representatives.

I may vote Greens and continue my preferences to FF in the local but I will vote Gerry in the Europeans to try and stop Kathy Synott.

I have a friend who is running in East Cork who I would vote for if I lived down there.

I

Dub13

I hate to think of that plonker Royston "My Da is better that yours" Brady get in....they only good thing if he did would be that he would be out of the country a lot more.

Dub13

As for Strategic Voting thats what I thought about before I made up my mind,so I will be voting for Mary Lou McDonald as I think she offers something differnt and it helps that I hate the Greens.

de5p0i1er

Originally posted by Einstürzende
I'll vote for anyone 'cept the Turkey (FF).

My thoughts exactley, I'll go for FG Labour then Sinn Fein. FF & PD can go to hell as far as I'm concerned.

The Rooster

Sorry therecklessone, when I said I couldnt decide how to split the three left wing candidates I was talking about McKenna, Ivana and DeRossa.

Sinn Fein and the Socialists are too extreme left wing for me to consider voting for.

Ronan|Raven

I just voted for one candidate in the locals (independant) Main reason along with most other people is to see the existing ones turfed out as they have had it all their own way for to long in the area. I was pondering to give sf a vote but tbh I just cant bring myself to doing it.

therecklessone

Originally posted by The Rooster
Sorry therecklessone, when I said I couldnt decide how to split the three left wing candidates I was talking about McKenna, Ivana and DeRossa.

Sinn Fein and the Socialists are too extreme left wing for me to consider voting for.

Thats all right. You should have said centre-left though, would have been clearer.

shoegirl

Originally posted by The Brigadier
I have been looking at the opinion polls throughout the runup to the elections.

I would normally vote for Gay Mitchell here, however it looks like he is going to get in on the 1st count.

I have instead looked at who I would NOT like to get in. Of all the candidates going for election I really don't want to see a Sinn Fein candidate elected. As a result I am voting for both Labour candidates simply to try and prevent Sinn Fein being elected.

I view it as the lesser of two evils. Is anyone else thinking on similar lines?

Absolutely. I was reared on protest voting. I am also usually an FG supporter so I'll be voting for Simon Coveny in Munster. I don't want to see SF in and I will do anything I can to get out one of the FF incumbents, so I'll vote for Kathy Sinnott, even though I think that many of her policies are totally wrong (ok, I know it doesn't make sense, but lesser of 2 evils I think - better her than another FF gombeen).

monument

I think I may be voting for SF, FF, and FG, just to stop the PDs from getting a town or CC place. I don't (think I) have any Greens etc to vote for.

daveirl

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AngelofFire

I Voted for all the candidates on my list in some preference except for Fianna Fail,PDs and the Christian Solidarity party.

daveirl

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