Why are Irish people allowed vote in a British election - under Commonwealth Law?

Motley Crue

So I moved to England a few years ago, and a letter arrives in the door during the last General Elections (and now more recently for future Local Elections) and I'm told on both that I am allowed vote in all UK elections since I am Irish and live 183 days or more in the UK a year (that is, I claim residency here)

I do some research and find that a French, South African, German or Dutch person hasn't got the the same rights as me. They can't vote in all UK elections (EU citizens can vote in some, but not everything, and General Elections are normally a big no no), whereas the moment I step off the plane I can pretty much go to the voting booth. An EU citizen has to wait a certain amount of time before they can vote, an Irish person doesn't, and an EU citizen will never be allowed vote in all elections unless they declare themselves a citizen of the UK. They have to apply for citizenship to do this.

I have to say I was a bit confused - so I did some further research - and found that due to Commonwealth Laws it is still perfectly acceptable for an Irish person to vote in a UK election. This is a person born and raised in the Republic of Ireland with an Irish passport. If you were born and raised in Northern Ireland, you can apply for duel citizenship, and receive both passports.

Canada, which is still a part of the commonwealth, does not have this right. Neither does Australia. So why is it that a country which fought so hard to obtain it's Independence has still got this connection with the UK? For me, it seems wrong, because it implies a connection between the UK and Ireland and I always believed the Republic of Ireland to be fully independent from the UK?

Are UK citizens allowed to vote in Irish elections?

snubbleste

Motley Crue wrote: »

Are UK citizens allowed to vote in Irish elections?

Yes.
British citizens may vote at Dáil elections, European elections and local elections. They can't vote on referenda.
Cyprus and Malta are also eligible to vote in all UK elections.

Kev_ps3

snubbleste wrote: »

Yes.
British citizens may vote at Dáil elections, European elections and local elections. They can't vote on referenda.

Thats mad.
Seems the tentacles of Imperialism havent fully been broken yet.

dlofnep

Kev_ps3 wrote: »

Thats mad.
Seems the tentacles of Imperialism havent fully been broken yet.

If they lived in Ireland, what exactly is your problem with them voting? Take my friend's parents for example. They have lived in Ireland for 30 years, but spent their first 20 years of life living in England. Why shouldn't they have the right to vote in affairs that affects them?

admiralofthefleet

i could be wrong but the brits control all of our lighthouses and bouys around the coast, im open to correction on this

the connctions we have to them piss me right off, we are a soverign independant country. we should break any ties that link us to them and their commonwealth

owenc

admiralofthefleet wrote: »

i could be wrong but the brits control all of our lighthouses and bouys around the coast, im open to correction on this

the connctions we have to them piss me right off, we are a soverign independant country. we should break any ties that link us to them and their commonwealth

You wouldn't survive.. aswell then.

pablomakaveli

admiralofthefleet wrote: »

i could be wrong but the brits control all of our lighthouses and bouys around the coast, im open to correction on this

the connctions we have to them piss me right off, we are a soverign independant country. we should break any ties that link us to them and their commonwealth

Theres a dual Irish - British fund for lighthouses i think. They don't control them.

As for the voting it was a mutual agreement between the Irish and British governments to give each others citizens the vote.

I don't see any problem with it.

owenc

pablomakaveli wrote: »

Theres a dual Irish - British fund for lighthouses i think. They don't control them.

As for the voting it was a mutual agreement between the Irish and British governments to give each others citizens the vote.

I don't see any problem with it.

I do because then the irish ones can come up here and vote for sin fien or something and we would end up having them in government for NI when really the country may not want them in government.

Notorious97

We should all go to the UK and vote for some outsider for the craic, im sure we could get them in :pac:

I think if they live here permenantly they are entitled to vote in our elections as they will have to put up with whatever gob****e we vote in, they may aswell have a say in it also.

Just because British people vote inour elections doesnt mean we are not free from them (even if it isnt yet a full 32 county freedom!), it is our elections in a Republic, seperate from the UK, i see no harm in british residents in the ROI voting here.

dlofnep

owenc wrote: »

I do because then the irish ones can come up here and vote for sin fien or something and we would end up having them in government for NI when really the country may not want them in government.

Sinn Féin received the highest number of votes of any party in the last elections. It doesn't need anyone from down south to move up and increase it's vote. It's doing well on it's own. Sinn Féin is already in Government in Stormont btw.

You're going to have to get used to it. Nationalists have representation and rightly so.

old_aussie

Is it something to do with a certain percent of votes being "donkey votes"

old_aussie runs off to find flame proof suit

Kintarō Hattori

I really don't see a problem with this. Ireland has close ties with Britian both economically, socially and politcally. A 'special relationship' between America and Britain (it's former colonial power) is often mentioned and the fact is that we have a well established 'special relationship' with our closest neighbour. It benefits us both to have this and waffling about severing our links with them or that we haven't completely thrown off the shackles of our past is daft- pure and simple.

We declared our independance a long time ago and that has been respected. We don't need to shout the loudest about it- that's just childish and makes us look ignorant.

owenc

dlofnep wrote: »

Sinn Féin received the highest number of votes of any party in the last elections. It doesn't need anyone from down south to move up and increase it's vote. It's doing well on it's own. Sinn Féin is already in Government in Stormont btw.

You're going to have to get used to it. Nationalists have representation and rightly so.

No the dup is the largest party sorry dear and they are not nationalists they are republicans.

mike65

Kev ps3 never ceases to amaze me with his narrow views. But his choice of signature is always a reminder of his sort.

pablomakaveli

owenc wrote: »

I do because then the irish ones can come up here and vote for sin fien or something and we would end up having them in government for NI when really the country may not want them in government.

Not everyone in the Republic vote for Sinn Fein.

mike65

Hardly anyone in the Republic votes Sinn Fein

dlofnep

owenc wrote: »

No the dup is the largest party sorry dear.

Did you read what I said?

"Sinn Féin received the highest number of votes of any party in the last elections"

This is a documented fact. More people voted for Sinn Féin in the last elections than any other party in the north. My point still stands. Sinn Féin is doing well on it's own, without requiring mass amounts of people to move up north and swing the vote.

2010 Election Results:

Sinn Féin: 171,942
DUP: 168,216

Kev_ps3

dlofnep wrote: »

If they lived in Ireland, what exactly is your problem with them voting? Take my friend's parents for example. They have lived in Ireland for 30 years, but spent their first 20 years of life living in England. Why shouldn't they have the right to vote in affairs that affects them?

I think only Irish people should have the vote, just my opinion. If they dont like the affairs that affects them then they could go home.

mike65

Kev_ps3 wrote: »

I think only Irish people should have the vote, just my opinion. If they dont like the affairs that affects them then they could go home.

So taxpayers can **** off?

Kev_ps3

mike65 wrote: »

Kev ps3 never ceases to amaze me with his narrow views. But his choice of signature is always a reminder of his sort.

My sort lol, what sort if that.

owenc

dlofnep wrote: »

Did you read what I said?

"Sinn Féin received the highest number of votes of any party in the last elections"

This is a documented fact. More people voted for Sinn Féin in the last elections than any other party in the north. My point still stands. Sinn Féin is doing well on it's own, without requiring mass amounts of people to move up north and swing the vote.

2010 Election Results:

Sinn Féin: 171,942
DUP: 168,216

If all the unionists parties were joint they would outwardly beat both nationalist parties .. and dup have the most seats.

dlofnep

Kev_ps3 wrote: »

I think only Irish people should have the vote, just my opinion. If they dont like the affairs that affects them then they could go home.

Why would they go home if they live here? Home is where the heart is. My friend's parents have made their home in Ireland, have paid for their house, have paid their taxes - and have probably contributed more to this state than you have.

Why on earth wouldn't they have a chance to vote after living here for 30 years? Just because they are English?

Jesus christ - Sometimes I understand why people look at Republicans and think we're all nutters, when they have to read that sort of nonsense all the time.

owenc

Kev_ps3 wrote: »

My sort lol, what sort if that.

The one that thinks that unionists should be burn't to death and shouldn't be here.

Notorious97

pablomakaveli wrote: »

Not everyone in the Republic vote for Sinn Fein.

unfortunately

dlofnep

owenc wrote: »

If all the unionists parties were joint they would outwardly beat both nationalist parties .. and dup have the most seats.

My point still stands.

Sinn Féin received more votes than any other party. It doesn't require people to flock up north in their 1000's to increase their vote. So your fears are irrational.

pablomakaveli

Notorious97 wrote: »

Fortunately

FYP;)

ejmaztec

Notorious97 wrote: »

We should all go to the UK and vote for some outsider for the craic, im sure we could get them in :pac:

I think if they live here permenantly they are entitled to vote in our elections as they will have to put up with whatever gob****e we vote in, they may aswell have a say in it also.

Just because British people vote inour elections doesnt mean we are not free from them (even if it isnt yet a full 32 county freedom!), it is our elections in a Republic, seperate from the UK, i see no harm in british residents in the ROI voting here.

It would be a lot easier for a lot of English people to come over here and do the same. David Cameron would be the next Taoiseach.

owenc

dlofnep wrote: »

My point still stands.

Sinn Féin received more votes than any other party. It doesn't require people to flock up north in their 1000's to increase their vote. So your fears are irrational.

Idc they still are intitled to do that which i don't like and the people of the republic could secretly get together and come up here do all vote for sin fien you know that and don't say it can't happen because it can.

Kev_ps3

mike65 wrote: »

So taxpayers can **** off?

Of course, if they don't like the country.

Notorious97

pablomakaveli wrote: »

FYP;)

lol yet again another example of editing republicans to suit others haha

pablomakaveli

owenc wrote: »

The one that thinks that unionists should be burn't to death and shouldn't be here.

To be honest you sound like you're the other extreme, the one that wants to keep the "taigs" in their place.

dlofnep

mike65 wrote: »

Hardly anyone in the Republic votes Sinn Fein

Not an honest assessment Mike. Sinn Féin received over 143,000 votes in the last general election. In comparison, Labour received just over 209,000. In terms of votes, they are the 4th largest party in the south.

owenc

pablomakaveli wrote: »

To be honest you sound like you're the other extreme, the one that wants to keep the "taigs" in their place.

No i don't because my mothers family are catholics, originally protestants.

Kev_ps3

owenc wrote: »

The one that thinks that unionists should be burn't to death and shouldn't be here.

I never said anything about burning them to death..

owenc

dlofnep wrote: »

Not an honest assessment Mike. Sinn Féin received over 143,000 votes in the last general election. In comparison, Labour received just over 209,000. In terms of votes, they are the 4th largest party in the south.

and how many parties are their...

dlofnep

owenc wrote: »

Idc they still are intitled to do that which i don't like and the people of the republic could secretly get together and come up here do all vote for sin fien you know that and don't say it can't happen because it can.

Who fills your head up with this shít, seriously?

Kintarō Hattori

Kev_ps3 wrote: »

Of course, if they don't like the country.

You're making no sense. No-one said they didn't like the country. You implied that they shouldn't be allowed to vote simply because they are British.

If they are happy living here, have worked and paid their taxes, should they be allowed vote- even if they are British? Hmmn?

owenc

Kev_ps3 wrote: »

I never said anything about burning them to death..

Yes you did, on the thread that was closed.

dlofnep

owenc wrote: »

and how many parties are their...

There were 13 registered parties for the last general elections.

owenc

dlofnep wrote: »

There were 13 registered parties for the last general elections.

Well there you go then.

dlofnep

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

You're making no sense. No-one said they didn't like the country. You implied that they shouldn't be allowed to vote simply because they are British.

If they are happy living here, have worked and paid their taxes, should they be allowed vote- even if they are British? Hmmn?

Exactly.

It's funny that Owen thanked this post - when his opinion is completely opposite to it when it comes to Irish people voting in the north.

dlofnep

owenc wrote: »

Well there you go then.

Were you trying to make a point? Is this your way of winning our debate, where you found out that there wasn't actually anyway to counter my claim that Sinn Féin received the highest votes in the North in the last elections?

You're stretching Owen, stretching!

questionmark?

owenc wrote: »

No the dup is the largest party sorry dear and they are not nationalists they are republicans.

owenc wrote: »

If all the unionists parties were joint they would outwardly beat both nationalist parties .. and dup have the most seats.

hmmm

owenc

questionmark? wrote: »

hmmm

Yes?

Kev_ps3

owenc wrote: »

Yes you did, on the thread that was closed.

quote me where I say that.

dlofnep

Owen's ignorance is amusing. He actually doesn't know when he's fúcked up.

walshb

Motley Crue wrote: »

So I moved to England a few years ago, and a letter arrives in the door during the last General Elections (and now more recently for future Local Elections) and I'm told on both that I am allowed vote in all UK elections since I am Irish and live 183 days or more in the UK a year (that is, I claim residency here)

I do some research and find that a French, South African, German or Dutch person hasn't got the the same rights as me. They can't vote in all UK elections (EU citizens can vote in some, but not everything, and General Elections are normally a big no no), whereas the moment I step off the plane I can pretty much go to the voting booth. An EU citizen has to wait a certain amount of time before they can vote, an Irish person doesn't, and an EU citizen will never be allowed vote in all elections unless they declare themselves a citizen of the UK. They have to apply for citizenship to do this.

I have to say I was a bit confused - so I did some further research - and found that due to Commonwealth Laws it is still perfectly acceptable for an Irish person to vote in a UK election. This is a person born and raised in the Republic of Ireland with an Irish passport. If you were born and raised in Northern Ireland, you can apply for duel citizenship, and receive both passports.

Canada, which is still a part of the commonwealth, does not have this right. Neither does Australia. So why is it that a country which fought so hard to obtain it's Independence has still got this connection with the UK? For me, it seems wrong, because it implies a connection between the UK and Ireland and I always believed the Republic of Ireland to be fully independent from the UK?

Are UK citizens allowed to vote in Irish elections?

You seem to be a bit pissed that this is the case? Why not see the positive in this rule. Nobody has to take that vote, but I think it's better that it's there for Irish people. So, Irish persons can vote in Britain; to me that is great.

It shows that although both the U.K and Ireland have a bitter past, we both are ALSO very very close, closer possibly than any other two countries/nations on earth.

Why always bring in the colonial and imperial aspect to this. I know that existed, but in the 21st Century with all that has gone before and all that has progressed, maybe this should be embraced and seen as a very positive
thing.

questionmark?

owenc wrote: »

Yes?

What do you mean yes? In the first post you clearly said sinn fein aren't nationalist's and in the second post you refer to them as Nationalists by indicting to the two nationalist's parties!! Yes i know there republican but if your trying to make a point you should be a little more consistant.

I believe that anybody living here a few years should have the right to vote in elections as they are contributing to society.

NothingMan

owenc wrote: »

No i don't because my mothers family are catholics, originally protestants.

Why, on a topic of politics and cross border voting in the north does religion come into it? Catholics can be unionists and I'm sure plenty of protestants in the Republic have republican views. Just because political leanings have similar statistics with religion population wise up north, does not mean they are the same thing.

It pisses me right off. Feckin idiots throwing religion in where it doesn't belong to reinforce stupid and ignorant arguments.

Kev_ps3

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

You're making no sense. No-one said they didn't like the country. You implied that they shouldn't be allowed to vote simply because they are British.

If they are happy living here, have worked and paid their taxes, should they be allowed vote- even if they are British? Hmmn?

Its more the principle of the thing I have a problem with tbh. I dont have a major prob with a few brits voting for fine gael. Any more than that then I dont see why we should call ourselves an Independent country.
I know its controversial around here but I think Ireland should be run by the Irish.

Kintarō Hattori

Kev_ps3 wrote: »

Its more the principle of the thing I have a problem with tbh. I dont have a major prob with a few brits voting for fine gael. Any more than that then I dont see why we should call ourselves an Independent country.
I know its controversial around here but I think Ireland should be run by the Irish.

Right, well I have no short snappy answers to that. I'd better get back to work. To debate this with you would take far to long and well I have work to be doing.

Take it away chaps.