How do I actually do it?

wdmfapq4zs83hv

Ok I have never voted before but will be this time.

My question is basically how does it work, ie what will be on the voting slip? Will it just say "Labour" "FF" "FG" "SF" & you tick beside one of them? Or is there a huge big list of main parties plus independant candidates. Can you just tick beside for example Labour? Or do you have to choose a 1st 2nd & 3rd.

How does it work?

Thanks

username123

You go to your polling station - it says on your voting card where it is. Bring ID - you may be asked for it. When you get there you follow the signs directing you to a table that covers your address. They look at your card, maybe ask for ID, tick you off and give you a ballot slip. You go to a booth with your ballot slip.

On the ballot slip will be the names and pics of the people running in your constituency. Each name has a box beside it. You fill out the boxes with the number you wish to assign, so you write 1 in your favourites box, 2 in your next favourites etc.. You dont have to fill out all the boxes. There will also be instructions on the ballot slip so you know what to do.

When youre done, fold your ballot slip and post it into the ballot box thats usually beside the table where you got your slip.

wdmfapq4zs83hv

Ok thanks, thats interesting, so actually if I wanted to vote for say example Eamonn Gilmore, I actually cant unless he is in my constituency? I would have to choose whatever other Labour candidates are running in my area? And I guess they just count all the Labour votes & if they have the most Eamonn Gilmore automatically becomes taoiseach as he is leader of Labour?

(forgive the ignorance, I have vehemently avoided anything to do with politics for as long as I can remember!)

d'Oracle

Benton Howling Lumbar wrote: »

Ok thanks, thats interesting, so actually if I wanted to vote for say example Eamonn Gilmore, I actually cant unless he is in my constituency? I would have to choose whatever other Labour candidates are running in my area? And I guess they just count all the Labour votes & if they have the most Eamonn Gilmore automatically becomes taoiseach as he is leader of Labour?

(forgive the ignorance, I have vehemently avoided anything to do with politics for as long as I can remember!)

Yes.
Yes.

At the end of the election all the TD's who have won seats get together and try to form a government. So If Labour get enough TDs to form a majority Gilmore is Taoiseach.
If they don't they can form a coalition. If they have more TD's than their coalition partners, Gilmore becomes taoiseach. If (say for likely example) FG go in with Labour and FG have more TD's than Labour, then Gilmore will most likely be Taniste to Enda Kenny.

Its good to vote and its good to make sure you are well informed before you do it, fair play.

NSNO

Well....


You vote for candidates standing for election in your constituency in your order of preference. The votes are then counted and allocated by the system of Proportional Representation - Single Transferable Vote (Explained well on the wiki page HERE) Then those deemed elected become TDs. Some constituencies elect 3 TDs, some 4 and others 5, all dependent on population. Once elected these TDs meet in Dáil Éireann to elect the new Taoiseach. It is the TDs who elected the Taoiseach and they do so by simple majority ie. to become Taoiseach you must be nominated by a majority of the TDs in the Dáil.

This is all put very simply, of course. If you have any further questions feel free to ask.

EDIT: I should add that it is very unusual in Ireland for any party to hold an overall majority in the Dáil. Much more often than not, parties negotiate a coalition agreement between themselves in which they negotiate a joint programme for government in which they will both be part of. Obviously the ratio of one party's policies and ministers is proportional to the amount of seats/power they hold. It is from this that Independents get their power as they can hold the balance of power and force a government to give them concessions in return for their support. The leader of the junior coalition partner is usually the Tanaiste.

wdmfapq4zs83hv

Makes sense, thanks

jellybeans

so when the TD's are voted into government an amount of the most voted for TD's are then made Ministers?? sorry for my ignorance but wheat do all the other 100+ do if they are not made ministers? and also does Fina Gael now in GE11 have to make some labour TD's minsters or is that up to his own discretion? Ive never really understood this side of it - Morto!