Resident British citizens eligable to vote in a GE here. Why?

bobblepuzzle

Didn't know this until now...

From RTE: All Irish and British citizens over the age of 18 who are on the electoral register are entitled to vote.

Fratton Fred

It is a reciprocal arrangement. Irish citizens resident in the UK can vote there.

Can't vote in presidential elections or referendums though.

Ickle Magoo

Yip - and all UK & IRISH citizens resident in the UK can vote too...

_feedback_

Dey tuk our votes

mgmt

My guess is that people born before 1947(?) are British citizens by birth right. So we have to allow British people to vote here.

starbelgrade

They gave us Tesco, we gave them the vote.

It's a fair arrangement.

Cathaoirleach

Makes sense to allow people in the North to vote in Irish elections.

bobblepuzzle

Fratton Fred wrote: »

It is a reciprocal arrangement. Irish citizens resident in the UK can vote there.

Can't vote in presidential elections or referendums though.

Ah I see...

mgmt

Cathaoirleach wrote: »

Makes sense to allow people in the North to vote in Irish elections.

No it dosn't. If they are not resident in a constituensy(sp) they should not be allowed to vote in the GE11. President elections on the otherhand...

Cathaoirleach

mgmt wrote: »

My guess is that people born before 1947(?) are British citizens by birth right. So we have to allow British people to vote here.

Actually, they were Citizens of 'the Irish Free State and of the British Commonwealth of Nations'.

paul71

In fact this is due to be extended to all EU citizens resident here, Brian Lenihan comitted to that in 2008, but has not been enacted yet.

The Brigadier

Fratton Fred wrote: »

It is a reciprocal arrangement. Irish citizens resident in the UK can vote there.

Can't vote in presidential elections or referendums though.

Yep, the relationship between Ireland and the UK is very close. Certainly with the amount of migration between the two countries this makes sense.

How many British citizens in Ireland are of Irish origin? (I don't know, just posing a question)

There are many other close links as well such as the domestic status of flights between the two countries.

Honest opinion

Im realy shocked how this is big news :eek: to everyone the reason British citzens can vote here is mainly to give the hundreds of thousands of nationlists in the North some kind of voice theres plans to extend there voting rights to presidential elections as well and general referendums

Fr Tod Umptious

Cathaoirleach wrote: »

Makes sense to allow people in the North to vote in Irish elections.

How do you figure that ?

People from the North, regardless of which passport they hold, cannot vote in General Election if they are not resident in one of the constituencies of the Republic of Ireland.

Fratton Fred

The Brigadier wrote: »

Yep, the relationship between Ireland and the UK is very close. Certainly with the amount of migration between the two countries this makes sense.

How many British citizens in Ireland are of Irish origin? (I don't know, just posing a question)

There are many other close links as well such as the domestic status of flights between the two countries.

I'm not sure about voting, but flights, welfare etc is all based on the Common Travel Area, which is Ireland, UK, Isle of Mann and the channel Islands.

Cathaoirleach

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

How do you figure that ?

People from the North, regardless of which passport they hold, cannot vote in General Election if they are not resident in one of the constituencies of the Republic of Ireland.

They would have to be registered in one of the constituencies in ROI originally, but they do not have to be resident there now.

The Brigadier

Cathaoirleach wrote: »

They would have to be registered in one of the constituencies in ROI originally, but they do not have to be resident there now.

Are you sure of that? An Irish person resident in Great Britain can't vote.

Lumen

I assumed all residents could vote in a GE, regardless of nationality.

What would be the case for excluding these people from voting?

the groutch

was going to start a thread about this but was beaten to it.
it's crazy imo that the British get to decide who runs OUR country
so much for democracy

The Brigadier

the groutch wrote: »

was going to start a thread about this but was beaten to it.
it's crazy imo that the British get to decide who runs OUR country
so much for democracy

Yes, but you can vote in the UK as well.

Kev_ps3

So we can vote in Northern Ireland general elections?

summerskin

yet tens of thousands of irish who live in the UK are allowed to vote in UK elections?

sort yourself out, man.

Fr Tod Umptious

Cathaoirleach wrote: »

They would have to be registered in one of the constituencies in ROI originally, but they do not have to be resident there now.

Yes of course that can happen, however if there is good voting register maintenance that person would be removed from the register as they would no longer be resident in the constituency.

Cathaoirleach

The right to vote is as follows:

* Irish citizens may vote at every election and referendum;
* British citizens may vote at Dáil elections, European elections and local elections;
* Other European Union (EU) citizens may vote at European and local elections
* Non-EU citizens may vote at local elections only.

Resident Irish citizens are entitled to vote at all elections and they are identified by the letter 'P' after their names on the register. Resident British citizens can vote in local, European and Dáil elections and are identified by the letter 'D'. Resident EU citizens can only vote in local and European elections and have a letter 'E' after their names. Those identified by the letter 'L' opposite their name (non-EU citizens) can only vote at local elections.

Riskymove

Cathaoirleach wrote: »

They would have to be registered in one of the constituencies in ROI originally, but they do not have to be resident there now.

technically, you do have to be 'ordinarily resident' here to vote. Someone living in NI 'should' not be registered to vote here.

in reality, as we are all aware, there are many issues with our register

So we can vote in Northern Ireland general elections?

as above, only if you live there and are registered

Riskymove

the groutch wrote: »

was going to start a thread about this but was beaten to it.
it's crazy imo that the British get to decide who runs OUR country
so much for democracy

well, firstly, as they live here, maybe work here and pay tax etc, why shouldn't they get a vote?

secondly...just how many of them do you think there are? Its not like they will greatly influence the Dail numbers

alfa beta

the groutch wrote: »

was going to start a thread about this but was beaten to it.
it's crazy imo that the British get to decide who runs OUR country
so much for democracy

not quite!

Its just that British people who live here and are registered on the electoral role (and pay taxes and stuff here) get to vote like the rest of us

what's your problem with that?

I lived in the UK for a decade and (as an irish citizen) I could vote there - and I did.

seriously - stop trying to be so sensationalist.

GSF

The Brigadier wrote: »

Yes, but you can vote in the UK as well.

From the tone of this thread you'd think that 60m UK residents were eligible to vote today. They will be long queues then so!

Of course you actually have to live in the UK to vote there. Same thing with UK citzens in Ireland.

Fratton Fred

Kev_ps3 wrote: »

So we can vote in Northern Ireland general elections?

If you live there, yes.

irelandspurs

Maybe because we live here,we have bought houses here we pay our taxes here.

Riskymove

irelandspurs wrote: »

Maybe because we live here,we have bought houses here we pay our taxes here.

while I agree, as has been pointed out, French or Danish people or so on, in the same position do not get to vote here

it is only because Ireland and the UK have an agreement that this occurs

paul71

Cathaoirleach wrote: »

The right to vote is as follows:

* Irish citizens may vote at every election and referendum;
* British citizens may vote at Dáil elections, European elections and local elections;
* Other European Union (EU) citizens may vote at European and local elections
* Non-EU citizens may vote at local elections only.

Resident Irish citizens are entitled to vote at all elections and they are identified by the letter 'P' after their names on the register. Resident British citizens can vote in local, European and Dáil elections and are identified by the letter 'D'. Resident EU citizens can only vote in local and European elections and have a letter 'E' after their names. Those identified by the letter 'L' opposite their name (non-EU citizens) can only vote at local elections.

Correct that is the law as it currently stands but we are committed to extend this to include all EU citizens resident here to the same level of voting rights as British citizens living here.

This commitment was made in 2008 but was not enacted in time for this election.

munchkin_utd

paul71 wrote: »

Correct that is the law as it currently stands but we are committed to extend this to include all EU citizens resident here to the same level of voting rights as British citizens living here.

This commitment was made in 2008 but was not enacted in time for this election.

cool
which law is that?

EDIT: mentioned in an article here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/18/ireland.eu
No mention of it being a law though , just a definite proposal

gent9662

the groutch wrote: »

was going to start a thread about this but was beaten to it.
it's crazy imo that the British get to decide who runs OUR country
so much for democracy

My Dad is English he has lived here for 35 years in which time he has raised three Irish kids paid his taxes. But he should not be allowed to decide who runs the country where he lives?

Would you think it fair that an Irish person living in the UK for 35+ years equally should not be allowed to vote in the country where they have their family, pay taxes and own their house?

Well?

gent9662

the groutch wrote: »

was going to start a thread about this but was beaten to it.
it's crazy imo that the British get to decide who runs OUR country
so much for democracy

For your information, the Irish are no longer running our country, it's the EU and the IMF!

paul71

munchkin_utd wrote: »

cool
which law is that?

EDIT: mentioned in an article here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/18/ireland.eu
No mention of it being a law though , just a definite proposal

Think you need to re-read what I said. I agreed with the poster on the law as it currently stands, but that we are committed to extending it. I didn't say that the extension has come into law yet.

Riskymove

dclane wrote: »

My Dad is English he has lived here for 35 years in which time he has raised three Irish kids paid his taxes. But he should not be allowed to decide who runs the country where he lives?

Well?

as I mentioned its only due to an agreement between IRL and UK

if your father was French or German or outer-Mongolian he would not have a vote today

munchkin_utd

Riskymove wrote: »

as I mentioned its only due to an agreement between IRL and UK

if your father was French or German or outer-Mongolian he would not have a vote today

And,
if the law to extend voting to all EU citizens comes into force
(aside from the UK):

a) an irish citizen abroad in any other EU country can NEITHER vote there or in Ireland - no say anywhere
b) the EU citizen in Ireland can then vote to decide the government in BOTH his home country AND Ireland.

the Ireland Uk relationshiop is complicated with the land border and other factors. The vote for Uk citizens is unavoidable.
It doesnt mean that the vote should be extended to every single Eu citozen in Ireland though!!

At least not when EVERY OTHER EU country does NOT allow voting except to its citizens.
Which I dont actually find wrong. If you love your new country so much, you should sign up and get the passport and forget that your irish or whatever you were before!

who the fug

irelandspurs wrote: »

Maybe because we live here,we have bought houses here we pay our taxes here.

Pay taxes, :pa dirty under hand British trick to show up poor Paddy, this is a new low even for a sassanach

Manach

This seems fair on the basis of reprerousity.

Cat Melodeon

In 2006 there were over 112,000 people of UK nationality resident in Ireland (http://www.cso.ie/statistics/nationalityagegroup.htm). Not all of them will have been eligible to vote (children).

EU citizens can register to vote in Dail elections once they have lived here for 5 years.

Cat Melodeon

Manach wrote: »

This seems fair on the basis of reprerousity.

Is that even a word? I definitely need to expand my vocabulary.

Riskymove

Cat Melodeon wrote: »

EU citizens can register to vote in Dail elections once they have lived here for 5 years.

if they become Irish citizens, some do not despite being here for decades

Riskymove

Cat Melodeon wrote: »

Is that even a word? I definitely need to expand my vocabulary.

reciprocity


regarding reciprication!!

Ponster

munchkin_utd wrote: »

At least not when EVERY OTHER EU country does NOT allow voting except to its citizens.
Which I dont actually find wrong. If you love your new country so much, you should sign up and get the passport and forget that your irish or whatever you were before!

I wouldn't mind, after have lived and paid taxes in France for 10 years now, to have the right to vote in their general elections without it having anything to do with 'loving' the country nor giving up my nationality.

two wheels good

Cat Melodeon wrote: »

In 2006 there were over 112,000 people of UK nationality resident in Ireland (http://www.cso.ie/statistics/nationalityagegroup.htm). Not all of them will have been eligible to vote (children).

EU citizens can register to vote in Dail elections once they have lived here for 5 years.

Thank you - for some clarity. I have never read such a gabble of misinformation and misunderstanding in a thread.

This reciprocal arrangement has nothing to do with paying taxes or employment or duration of residency or having Irish off-spring or Britain running Irish affairs. (Britain gave Irish nationals resident in the UK the vote long before Ireland reciprocated. I don't recall the relevant dates )

munchkin_utd

Cat Melodeon wrote: »

EU citizens can register to vote in Dail elections once they have lived here for 5 years.

no they cannot!

they have the right to become naturalized, be an irish citizen, and as an irish citizen, they can then vote.

As a foreigner they CANNOT vote in irish general elections.

aside from IRL/ UK arrangements :

Other European Union (EU) citizens may vote at European and local elections
Non-EU citizens may vote at local elections only.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/moving_to_ireland/introduction_to_the_irish_system/right_to_vote.html

Cat Melodeon

Apologies, I should have said that EU citizens can register to vote once they have been naturalised (which is usually after 3-5 years). It is a very simple process for longterm EU citizens resident in Ireland to become naturalised. Once they meet the other citeria (such as not having had any convictions, not having claimed benefits for the previous 3 years, being of good character etc), they just fill in a form and send it off the the Minister of Justice. I know of at least one political party that has been giving out the relevant forms to potential voters for the past few months hoping to expand their voter base.

Becoming a naturalised citizen does not affect your nationality, although you do have to swear loyalty to the State.

mike65

Tis a bit worrying that people who are allowed to vote don't know this stuff....

SHOVELLER

mike65 wrote: »

Tis a bit worrying that people who are allowed to vote don't know this stuff....

Tis a bit worrying that barstoolers are allowed to vote at all!

aabarnes1

Honest opinion wrote: »

Im realy shocked how this is big news :eek: to everyone the reason British citzens can vote here is mainly to give the hundreds of thousands of nationlists in the North some kind of voice theres plans to extend there voting rights to presidential elections as well and general referendums

What planet are you on? I read your post whilst searching for relevant info on British citizens living in Ireland and their rights to vote accross the board, I really think you got mixed up with you're perception of the whole thread.