Low voter turn out in Dublin

Aongus Von Bismarck

I often find when I chat to a "tru-blu salt a' de aaiirrth" Dub, that they are the most vocal about how the government are absolutely terrible, how they're all a bunch of cowboys, etc. etc.

In my experience Dubs moan the most about the political issues of the day. However, consistently, in every single election, Dublin registers the lowest voter turnout. Yesterday's was no exception.

Why is that? Are Dubs all talk, but when it actually comes to exercising their political rights, they really don't care all that much?

pablomakaveli

Don't European elctions normally get a low turn out anyway? Not that surprising really.

Aongus Von Bismarck

pablomakaveli wrote: »

Don't European elctions normally get a low turn out anyway? Not that surprising really.

But Dubs consistently turn out in much lower numbers than the rest of the country, despite their continuous foghorn vocal protests.

Lone Stone

Place was packed when i went to vote had to queue up to use a booth.

strobe

Because people in Dublin have jobs to do and lives to live whereas people from the country do nothing but sit around petting cows and drinking tea and waiting around for election day so they can stroll down and choose between their next door neighbour or their uncle in terms of who is most likely to get that new cattle grid installed... obviously.

gerard_65

At least we don't elect Lowry or Healy-Rae.

Aongus Von Bismarck

gerard_65 wrote: »

At least we don't elect Lowry or Healy-Rae.

Most people don't seem to elect anyone at all. That's my point

gerard_65

gerard_65 wrote: »

At least we don't elect Lowry or Healy-Rae.

6 candidates ran under the banner "Team Lowry" in Tipp!

Nib

strobe wrote: »

Because people in Dublin have jobs to do and lives to live whereas people from the country do nothing but sit around petting cows and drinking tea and waiting around for election day so they can stroll down and choose between their next door neighbour or their uncle in terms of who is most likely to get that new cattle grid installed... obviously.

Says your man with 6,401 posts on and internet discussion site.

Yeah, your life must be non stop.

Rasheed

gerard_65 wrote: »

At least we don't elect Lowry or Healy-Rae.

Yeah because Bertie and O Reilly are politicians to be proud of......

Duckworth_Luas

I've seen posters for Pat "The Cope" Gallagher in Dublin.

He's running in Midlands/NorthWest?

Gran Hermano

Nib wrote: »

Says your man with 6,401 posts on and internet discussion site.

Yeah, your life must be non stop.

Not a massive difference in their number of posts per day since joining and yours.

Mikros

I'd imagine because of the more transient nature of the population in Dublin (people moving around a lot more), the electoral registers are way off and as such the % turnout looks worse than it would be if the register was more accurate.

Frosty McSnowballs

Nib wrote: »

Says your man with 6,401 posts on and internet discussion site.

Yeah, your life must be non stop.

Ah Nib, what crawled up your ass that you couldn't get out?

You are here too y'know.

Frank Lee Midere

Mikros wrote: »

I'd imagine because of the more transient nature of the population in Dublin (people moving around a lot more), the electoral registers are way off and as such the % turnout looks worse than it would be if the register was more accurate.

Very good point.

AlwaysAnyTime

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

I often find when I chat to a "tru-blu salt a' de aaiirrth" Dub, that they are the most vocal about how the government are absolutely terrible, how they're all a bunch of cowboys, etc. etc.

In my experience Dubs moan the most about the political issues of the day. However, consistently, in every single election, Dublin registers the lowest voter turnout. Yesterday's was no exception.

Why is that? Are Dubs all talk, but when it actually comes to exercising their political rights, they really don't care all that much?

Any proof of this low voter turnout in Dublin when compared to other counties? A link to some statistics, report, anything? I'm not doubting you, just interested in seeing some evidence.

Lumbo

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

Most people don't seem to elect anyone at all. That's my point

I think you'll find that someone is ALWAYS elected.

Jester252

They can't b1tch if they get their way

UCDVet

I'm probably wrong, but whenever I walk around the streets of Dublin, I get the distinct impression a very large percentage of the population isn't Irish. In my (admittedly limited) experience, most of them don't seem to know or care about voting. Honestly, I don't even know if they can vote.

Amirani

UCDVet wrote: »

I'm probably wrong, but whenever I walk around the streets of Dublin, I get the distinct impression a very large percentage of the population isn't Irish. In my (admittedly limited) experience, most of them don't seem to know or care about voting. Honestly, I don't even know if they can vote.

Anyone living in Ireland can vote in local elections. Only EU citizens in Ireland can vote in European elections.

Aongus Von Bismarck

UCDVet wrote: »

I'm probably wrong, but whenever I walk around the streets of Dublin, I get the distinct impression a very large percentage of the population isn't Irish. In my (admittedly limited) experience, most of them don't seem to know or care about voting. Honestly, I don't even know if they can vote.

Anyone who is resident can vote in the local elections. So presumably most of them have a vote. That's a fairly good point.

I live in Germany and I don't give a rats arse who is running in the European election here.

AlwaysAnyTime

Diego Simeone wrote: »

Anyone living in Ireland can vote in local elections.

That can't be right is it? Or do you mean anyone with Irish citizenship can vote in local elections. I know a lot of Chinese people (here for less than a year) on student visas who live in Ireland, can they vote ?

Wishiwasa Littlebitaller

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MnELifX3sQ

Aongus Von Bismarck

AlwaysAnyTime wrote: »

That can't be right is it? Or do you mean anyone with Irish citizenship can vote in local elections. I know a lot of Chinese people (here for less than a year) on student visas who live in Ireland, can they vote ?

Yep, provided they are legally resident in Ireland, they can vote.

Also, strangely, British citizens here can vote in Dail elections and visa versa for British parliament elctions.

Amirani

AlwaysAnyTime wrote: »

That can't be right is it? Or do you mean anyone with Irish citizenship can vote in local elections. I know a lot of Chinese people (here for less than a year) on student visas who live in Ireland, can they vote ?

Yes, they can. Anyone who has legal residency status can vote in local elections, including those on student visas.

General elections are only Irish and British citizens resident in Ireland. Presidency is only Irish citizens resident in Ireland.

I think what people are getting at is that people who live in Ireland can vote in local elections :P

UCDVet

Diego Simeone wrote: »

Anyone living in Ireland can vote in local elections. Only EU citizens in Ireland can vote in European elections.

Good to know.

As an immigrant, I can say that *personally*, I had no idea if I'd be eligible to vote, where to go to vote, or what I'd need to bring with me. In fairness, I didn't bother to look. I had a chat with some co-workers after work on Friday and we were commenting on the signs plastered all over Dublin. We knew it had to do with voting, but we didn't know what it was for, or when the vote would be held.

I just asked and neither of my roommates (both non-Irish, living (legally) in Dublin) had a clue about any of it.

I could be wrong, but I remember being told that Dublin had a very high percentage of immigrants. I'd expect them to have a lower turnout than Irish, but again, I'm just guessing based on my own experience. I don't have any studies or facts

Peregrine

Any legal resident can vote in local elections.
EU citizens in EU elections.
Irish and British citizens in Dáil elections.
And only Irish citizens can vote in Presidential elections and referenda.

In my experience, most non-EU immigrants don't even know that they can vote in local elections.

neamhspleachi

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

But Dubs consistently turn out in much lower numbers than the rest of the country, despite their continuous foghorn vocal protests.

Anti-Dub racist culchie ;-)

Andy-Pandy

I voted yesterday, I always try to, but when i got to the booths and looked at my options I had no one I wanted to give my vote too. I always vote Green, so thats all i voted for. I'm not surprised very few turn out when there is no one to vote for, no point in voting for the hell of it.

Aongus Von Bismarck

neamhspleachi wrote: »

Anti-Dub racist culchie ;-)

I hadn't realised Dubs were a separate race?

bnt

It did rain a bit in Dublin on Friday, that's always bad for the turnout. But I do agree with the people who can't find anyone in there to vote for. I looked and saw too many protest candidates: OK, so we know what you're against (bankers, water charges, capitalism, etc.), now what are you for?

Follaton_Wood

I'm not registered to vote. I always said I wouldn't register until I actually believed in the system. Can't see that happening any time soon.

mikemac1

Mikros wrote: »

I'd imagine because of the more transient nature of the population in Dublin (people moving around a lot more), the electoral registers are way off and as such the % turnout looks worse than it would be if the register was more accurate.

I did work on that back around 2005/2006 when Dick Roche got hammered in the media over inaccurate registers.

So Fingal council and others were ordered to pound the streets and knock on doors. My landlord worked on the council and got me some paid work. Always the way, who you know

I believe we did a very good job at the time!

Maybe time for another run to get it sorted before the next GE

Aidric

pablomakaveli wrote: »

Don't European elctions normally get a low turn out anyway? Not that surprising really.

Yep. Read earlier that turnout in the Czech Republic was 20%. That figure speaks volumes and should raise concerns.

oak5548

strobe wrote: »

Because people in Dublin have jobs to do and lives to live whereas people from the country do nothing but sit around petting cows and drinking tea and waiting around for election day so they can stroll down and choose between their next door neighbour or their uncle in terms of who is most likely to get that new cattle grid installed... obviously.

Sad thing is, this is what a lot of people like yourself actually believe.

moxin

UCDVet wrote: »

I could be wrong, but I remember being told that Dublin had a very high percentage of immigrants. I'd expect them to have a lower turnout than Irish, but again, I'm just guessing based on my own experience. I don't have any studies or facts

In my workplace, most immigrants from the old Eastern Bloc. They have zero interest in voting as per their words they are not long term stayers here.

hfallada

Depends on the area. In middle class and upper class areas, nearly everyone votes. But turnout is low in working class areas.

Its hard to vote in Dublin, when most polling stations dont have parking

suicide_circus

UCDVet wrote: »

I'm probably wrong, but whenever I walk around the streets of Dublin, I get the distinct impression a very large percentage of the population isn't Irish. In my (admittedly limited) experience, most of them don't seem to know or care about voting. Honestly, I don't even know if they can vote.

I am one of two irish born people in the apartment block I live in (dub cc).Huge amount of south americans in Dublin at the moment "learning english".

EyeSight

I didn't vote because no candidate or party deserved mine. I didn't agree with any of them

I think it's better to not vote than vote just for the sake of it

Follaton_Wood

Follaton_Wood wrote: »

I'm not registered to vote. I always said I wouldn't register until I actually believed in the system. Can't see that happening any time soon.

How do you plan on changing the system if you have no input?

salmocab

there are 3 votes registered to my house and only one, me, lives here the others are long gone presumably the people we bought the house off. Id imagine there is a massive difference in the electoral register in Dublin compared to the actual voters due to a large enough city having a more transient population compared to rural areas.

wendell borton

gerard_65 wrote: »

At least we don't elect Lowry or Healy-Rae.

Well ye did elect bertie the biggest cowboy of them all.

jackofalltrades

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

Low voter turn out in Dublin

What's your source for this?

Reformed Character

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

But Dubs consistently turn out in much lower numbers than the rest of the country, despite their continuous foghorn vocal protests.

Do you have any actual evidence of this consistently lower turnout in Dublin?

How Soon Is Now

UCDVet wrote: »

I'm probably wrong, but whenever I walk around the streets of Dublin, I get the distinct impression a very large percentage of the population isn't Irish. In my (admittedly limited) experience, most of them don't seem to know or care about voting. Honestly, I don't even know if they can vote.

Haha :pac: someone is going to know why i find this funny.

smellmepower

Only reason I voted was to give Kenny Egan my last place vote,prick will probably still be elected though.

Rosy Posy

Mikros wrote: »

I'd imagine because of the more transient nature of the population in Dublin (people moving around a lot more), the electoral registers are way off and as such the % turnout looks worse than it would be if the register was more accurate.

I'm still registered to vote in Dublin despite being emigrated eight years. My parents keep sending off the forms as part of their delusion that I'm coming back one day.

B.A._Baracus

I did not vote.
I just view elections as which crook you like the most. They're all the same.

salmocab

smellmepower wrote: »

Only reason I voted was to give Kenny Egan my last place vote,prick will probably still be elected though.

If you think he's a prick why didn't you just not give him any vote at all?

DeanAustin

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

I did not vote.
I just view elections as which crook you like the most. They're all the same.

So you think Enda is the same as Lowry? Noonan is the same as Healy-Rae?

Really?