Voting from overseas

karenpk

I had planned to vote for the first time in the upcoming election because of the dire state of Irish politics. Previously elections generally fell during exam time when I was studying away from home and I never got my act together enough to apply for the postal vote. Because I have heard that it's possible to vote from abroad in other countries by post or other means I naively assumed that this was also possible for Irish elections. Unfortunately I found out that this only applies to the armed forces and Irish diplomats.

So when you move abroad as many people are now forced to do you loose your right to vote in Ireland. Does anyone know the reasons for this or have an opinion on the issue? Personally it feels like I am being treated as less of a citizen because I decided to move abroad rather than further burden the social welfare system.

Reilly616

No representation without taxation...

But seriously, Irish citizenship is too easy to come by to give a vote to every Irish citizen who isn't ordinarily resident here.

karenpk

As someone who was born in Ireland to Irish parents and has lived there for most of my life and intend to return at some point I don't feel that my right to vote is taken away because I have moved away.

Apparently I'm not the only one http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0218/breaking28.html

gandalf

A compromise would be if a Irish citizen has paid a full years taxes in the previous tax year and have since emigrated that they should be entitled to a postal vote.

I also believe that anyone who is not an Irish Citizen who has paid taxes in Ireland for ten years should be entitled to vote in General Elections as well.

Reilly616

Karenpk, why should you have a say in who runs my life, when they won't be running yours and when I have no say in who runs yours?

telekon

But, but...you have no need for planning permission or help getting a medical card?? What would be the point?!?

lil_lisa

A lot of people are being forced out of the country in search of jobs and are probably hopeful to return in the future. As people who were born and raised in Ireland, I think it only fair they get a say in how the economy shapes up for when they return.