Will you be voting on friday?

like clockwork!

please answer!

I would but I didnt get to register in time. I'm 19

IvySlayer

Course I'm voting. Any one who doesn't vote has no right to moan about current affairs. You have a chance to kick Fianna Fáil in the sack, use your power. Every vote counts.

bronte

Yes, it's still up in the air who I'll vote for though.

like clockwork!

Also, just wondering. Will anybody be purposely spoiling their vote to show their lack of satisfaction with any of the candidates?

Biggins

Absolutely.

KeyLimePie

Just so you know that if you turned 18 before feb 11th you're automatically registered to vote

But then again you'd have your voting card by now anyway

easyeason3

Yep I'll be voting.
My number 1 has been picked for a long time despite telling every canvasser that they will get it. Anything to get them off my doorstep.
I have to say it's going to be one of the most exciting elections I can remember...I'm officially an old person after writing that

Agamemnon

like clockwork! wrote: »

Also, just wondering. Will anybody be purposely spoiling their vote to show their lack of satisfaction with any of the candidates?

I'll be taking a dump into the ballot box.

IvySlayer

Agamemnon wrote: »

I'll be taking a dump into the ballot box.

That one counts as a vote for Harney :pac:

DarkJager

Agamemnon wrote: »

I'll be taking a dump into the ballot box.

The first person to ask for my polling card is getting a web in the eyes..

like clockwork!

KeyLimePie wrote: »

Just so you know that if you turned 18 before feb 11th you're automatically registered to vote

But then again you'd have your voting card by now anyway

I didn't get a voting card for some reason. Meant to ask my parents how to go sorting it out but I never did it in time!

@Agamemnon - I said spoil, not soil :pac:

easyeason3

like clockwork! wrote: »

Also, just wondering. Will anybody be purposely spoiling their vote to show their lack of satisfaction with any of the candidates?

You may as well not vote if you are going to do that. It just means the people you really don't want to do well might be successful because you want to prove a point.

However I would suggest stapling a picture of yourself naked to your voting paper. On the back of the picture write down what you want changed. It's all about grabbing their attention.

KeyLimePie

like clockwork! wrote: »

I didn't get a voting card for some reason. Meant to ask my parents how to go sorting it out but I never did it in time!

@Agamemnon - I said spoil, not soil :pac:

To be eligible to be included on the Register of Electors, you must:

* be at least 18 years old on the day the Register comes into force (15 February)
* have been ordinarily resident in the State on 1 September in the year preceding the coming into force of the Register

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/government-in-ireland/elections-and-referenda/voting/registering-to-vote

But check yourself on the registrar of electors and if still not show up to the same polling station as your parents with a photo ID.

http://www.checktheregister.ie/

gerry28

We had the fianna fail guy round our neighbourhood there with tina turner's simply the best blaring from the speakers - I had to smile to myself.

I am sure of one thing it won't be fianna fail this time, frank mcbrearty jnr is running in my locality for labour, he sure would make himself heard if nothing else.

like clockwork!

easyeason3 wrote: »

You may as well not vote if you are going to do that. It just means the people you really don't want to do well might be successful because you want to prove a point.

However I would suggest stapling a picture of yourself naked to your voting paper. On the back of the picture write down what you want changed. It's all about grabbing their attention.

Or folding up a giant poster with mary harneys face photoshopped onto the body of a naked obese woman, and stapling it to your voting paper. And on the back of that poster you could outline your own detailed economic recovery plan and plan to rid Irish politics of all nepotism and gaa enthusiasts/publicans/farmers/teachers.

KnifeWRENCH

Yep, I'll be voting. SF for Europe. Most likely SF or Labour for local, although personally I don't think party politics is important at local level and I'd happily vote FF or even FG if I thought their candidate was the best*

*this is for local elections only

CianRyan

Yep, don't know who for though. :rolleyes:

niceirishfella

I'll be voting from home using one of the e-voting machines I bought going cheap on ebay.

ibarelycare

I want to and I know I should but I honestly haven't a clue who to vote for. I haven't been at home when any candidate has called so I haven't got to speak to any of them. I've checked out a few of their websites and plan to look at more by Friday. I might just choose the one with the pwettiest eyes

RoundTower

I won't be voting for any of those vandals and litterers.

KnifeWRENCH

elyod wrote: »

What's the vote for?

EDIT:
Please don't answer that, I truly don't care. To vote would imply I am backing a particular candidate, and even if I was to vote just for the sake of outing the current shower of hairy Japanese bastards, it would still imply I back a particular party over another.

Erm, you wouldn't be voting "the current shower" out. It's not a general election, you don't get to change the Government.

No politician is qualified to hold the position they do.

You don't need qualifications, the only things you need are votes.

It is a popularity contest in which the smarmy cute hoor winking ****ers inevitably win out.

Ultimately it really doesn't matter who our politicians are. They will always be unqualified to do the job, they will always make the wrong decisions, and we as a country will always be at the mercy of the greater global economy.

If you're so disillusioned with politics, then you should do something constructive - like get involved with politics yourself and try to make a difference. But if you'd prefer to whine on an internet forum about how everyone else is the problem and not you, well that's fine too.

Mossy Monk

For the first time in 11 years I have not received a polling card :mad:

Keano

I will be voting and know who will be getting my vote for the local elections but no idea who will get my vote for Europe.

elyod

Knife-WREEENCH wrote: »

You don't need qualifications, the only things you need are votes.

Exactly. Popularity contest.

Knife-WREEENCH wrote: »

If you're so disillusioned with politics, then you should do something constructive - like get involved with politics yourself and try to make a difference. But if you'd prefer to whine on an internet forum about how everyone else is the problem and not you, well that's fine too.

Get involved in politics, HA! People who are involved in politics have some serious question marks over their motivations and intentions.

I'm not whining that "everyone else is the problem". I'm just saying it's a pointless exercise.

thelordofcheese

elyod wrote: »

Get involved in politics, HA! People who are involved in politics have some serious question marks over their motivations and intentions.

well, that sweeping generalisation certainly makes your argument not at all petulant and childish.

Overheal

No Poll option for Not Irish?

>_>

<_<

the fall guy

IvySlayer wrote: »

Course I'm voting. Any one who doesn't vote has no right to moan about current affairs. You have a chance to kick Fianna Fáil in the sack, use your power. Every vote counts.

Utter ****e,I haven't voted in my life,evry vote abstained is a kick in the balls to those standing.

It's my democratic right not to vote for any of these eejits.

Abi

the fall guy wrote: »

Utter ****e,I haven't voted in my life,evry vote abstained is a kick in the balls to those standing.

It's my democratic right not to vote for any of these eejits.

You don't get it at all, do you?

dsmythy

the fall guy wrote: »

Utter ****e,I haven't voted in my life,evry vote abstained is a kick in the balls to those standing.

It's my democratic right not to vote for any of these eejits.

Nations who believe it is their democratic right not to get involved in democracy deserve to lose that freedom should those who do take part hate doing so.

ffs vote for an independent or something. Or Sinn Fein or Socialist or someone. As much as i hate those two.

Elessar

To be honest I don't know exactly what I would be voting for, what councillors actually do or what EU MEPs do or who's standing for that. I'm not particularly bothered to find out either.

In saying that though one of the local councillors bought me my dinner recently so I'll probly go down and give him my vote.

If you only select one person, is that a spoiled vote?

dsmythy

Elessar wrote: »

To be honest I don't know exactly what I would be voting for, what councillors actually do or what EU MEPs do or who's standing for that. I'm not particularly bothered to find out either.

In saying that though one of the local councillors bought me my dinner recently so I'll probly go down and give him my vote.

If you only select one person, is that a spoiled vote?

One is enough.

Who bought you that? Im in Swords. I want a free meal dammit!

Elessar

Well it was only because a family member was canvassing for him (he buys their dinner at the weekends) and I happened to be collecting said family member

banquo

Voting Labour, which is so weird to me. Has more to do with keeping the Govt. honest and less arrogant than actually getting labour in power.

elyod

dsmythy wrote: »

Nations who believe it is their democratic right not to get involved in democracy deserve to lose that freedom should those who do take part hate doing so.

err...what? The sentence makes no sense.

Abigayle wrote:

You don't get it at all, do you?

What's there to get?

Elessar wrote:

In saying that though one of the local councillors bought me my dinner recently so I'll probly go down and give him my vote

Speechless.

stovelid

Of course.

dreilly1990

Yes i will be voting but I don't know who to vote for

panda100

Voting Joe Higgins for MEP. Would vote for other Socialist party candidates but none running in my constiuency!
Will vote Maureen O'Sullivan (The Gregory candidate) in by election anyways.

Since moving up from West Limerick, where choice is only between FF and FG,this is the first time I wont have to spoil my vote.

The Maverick

the fall guy wrote: »

Utter ****e,I haven't voted in my life,evry vote abstained is a kick in the balls to those standing.

It's my democratic right not to vote for any of these eejits.

Sure why not abolish all political parties and just have one?
That worked out real well in Germany in the 1930's.Not so much in the 40's though.

PrivateEye

I don't vote on the grounds that I don't see 'parliamentary democracy' as a system that serves the interests of the vast majority of the people. I do however always spoil my vote (I vote in Referenda, as there is a greater level of democracy involved - you're not electing overpaid non-recallable 'representatives' for example, but rather having a direct input to some degree)

I think even if you oppose 'the system' you should still go down and even spoil your vote. Staying in bed might take away your "right to give out" but I think a "none of the above" option (as they have in some other countries) is the best idea.

There is temptation to vote Joe for Europe on the grounds that it would be crippling for the government parties however. Personally I think voting can be a political tacticial tool then on occasion, but its the very idea of electing individual representatives instead of pushing for direct democracy that I disagree with.

So, in terms of pushing for direct democracy I think this quote from 'Parlimament or Democracy?' (available free online as a PDF) gets it best

Direct democracy is based on delegation not representation. The crucial difference between delegation and representation is that delegates are only elected to implement specific decisions. Delegates do not have the right (like TDs or MPs) to change a decision previously made by an assembly of people. Delegates (unlike representatives) can be immediately recalled and dismissed from their mandate if they don't carry out the specific function allotted to them.

to quote from this thread:

If you're so disillusioned with politics, then you should do something constructive

I think if you're so disillusioned with the political establishment the best thing you can do is get involved in local stuff like community groups or campaigns in your area. These projects will ultimately do more for your area than knocking on doors for Fine Gael/ Labour/ the Greens every 4 years.

On a sidenote I genuienly think the anger is there in Dublin for Joe Higgins to take the third E.U seat, and that sh/tstorm awaits.

Blush_01

Leaving work early and heading straight to the train in order to get home in enough time to get to the polling station, where I won't need my polling card, because neither of the people in the polling station will look at it even if I bring it, and I (like everyone else) will be greeted by first name.

Small villages, eh?

Wagon

IvySlayer wrote: »

Course I'm voting. Any one who doesn't vote has no right to moan about current affairs. You have a chance to kick Fianna Fáil in the sack, use your power. Every vote counts.

I can't. I an registered but not on the online process Sadly, im in the wrong country. And the embassay is 500km away. Im pretty sure everyone else will have fianna fail out on their arses though and that's all i care about.

InkSlinger67

I'm registered and will not vote. This is the first of my four eligible elections I will not vote in.

I'd like to tell you why but........ Mary Lou McDonald....... is trying to wrestle ........my keyboard.......... away from me!!!!!

ccosgrave

**** no, there's no way I'm voting on Friday.










I'm voting on Thursday instead 'cause I'm working in the elections. :pac:

Run_to_da_hills

Anyone who is eligible to vote but doesn't bother their ar*e has no right to criticize the Government.

like clockwork!

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Anyone who is eligible to vote but doesn't bother their ar*e has no right to criticize the Government.

What if they genuinely don't approve of any of the available candidates? Should they spoil their vote or vote in somebody they don't want in, just to prevent a more unfavourable candidate from getting in?

elyod

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Anyone who is eligible to vote but doesn't bother their ar*e has no right to criticize the Government.

Anyone who voted in Fianna Fail in the last general election when all with a bit of sense knew it was time for a change has not right to call themselves intelligent.

I'll never vote and I will always criticize the government.

Uncle Oswald

Yeah, I can see Labour doing well...

seanybiker

no. Dont care bout politics.

dsmythy

elyod wrote: »

err...what? The sentence makes no sense.

Read it carefully and think. Here, i'll break it down for you and change the first word from 'Nations' to 'People'.

People who believe it is their democratic right not to get involved in democracy -- deserve to lose that freedom -- should those who do take part -- hate doing so.

minidazzler

I think Not Voting gives me the right to give out about all the idiots who voted in the idiots when the sh1t hit's the fan. Not because my 1 vote couldn't have changed anything. But, because my lack of support for any of the corrupt bastards running give's me the right to complain about the people who actually elect them.


That said, I may just go over and vote for some Independant in the Hope Sinn Fein don't get in.

sceptre

gerry28 wrote: »

We had the fianna fail guy round our neighbourhood there with tina turner's simply the best blaring from the speakers - I had to smile to myself.

"Private Dancer" might have been more appropriate