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

24567

Comments

  • #32
    dlofnep
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,759 ✭✭✭✭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.


  • #33
    owenc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,524 ✭✭✭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.


  • #34
    Kev_ps3
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,604 ✭✭✭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..


  • #35
    owenc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,524 ✭✭✭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...:confused:


  • #36
    dlofnep
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,759 ✭✭✭✭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?


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  • #37
    Kintarō Hattori
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,102 ✭✭✭✭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?


  • #38
    owenc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,524 ✭✭✭owenc


    Kev_ps3 wrote: »
    I never said anything about burning them to death..

    Yes you did, on the thread that was closed.


  • #39
    dlofnep
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,759 ✭✭✭✭dlofnep


    owenc wrote: »
    and how many parties are their...:confused:

    There were 13 registered parties for the last general elections.


  • #40
    owenc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,524 ✭✭✭owenc


    dlofnep wrote: »
    There were 13 registered parties for the last general elections.

    Well there you go then.


  • #41
    dlofnep
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,759 ✭✭✭✭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. ;)


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  • #42
    dlofnep
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,759 ✭✭✭✭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!


  • #43
    questionmark?
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,090 ✭✭✭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


  • #44
    owenc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,524 ✭✭✭owenc


    questionmark? wrote: »
    hmmm

    Yes?


  • #45
    Kev_ps3
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,604 ✭✭✭Kev_ps3


    owenc wrote: »
    Yes you did, on the thread that was closed.

    quote me where I say that.


  • #46
    dlofnep
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,759 ✭✭✭✭dlofnep


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


  • #47
    walshb
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61,100 ✭✭✭✭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.


  • #48
    questionmark?
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,090 ✭✭✭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.


  • #49
    NothingMan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,178 ✭✭✭✭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.


  • #50
    Kev_ps3
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,604 ✭✭✭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.


  • #51
    Kintarō Hattori
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,102 ✭✭✭✭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.


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  • #52
    Notorious97
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,479 ✭✭✭Notorious97


    NothingMan wrote: »
    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.

    Agreed, a stupid argument. A lot of Republicans are protestant, Wolfetone who all Republicans look up to was, just check my signature for his views on the religions and being Irish.

    Owen cut out the crap, seriously, reading your posts you are contradicting yourself over and over.


  • #53
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 2,960 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


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

    Its like debating a creationist. There's just no point.


  • #54
    Ickle Magoo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,485 ✭✭✭✭Ickle Magoo


    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.

    When did UK voters in Ireland magically morph into Ireland not being run by the Irish? There are probably more votes spoilt or Irish who don't bother using their vote than UK voters...


  • #55
    axer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,520 ✭✭✭axer


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_of_foreigners_to_vote#United_Kingdom
    (CN and EU member) Since 1949, the United Kingdom, citizens of the Commonwealth countries and of the Republic of Ireland have had full voting rights at all levels and can be candidates, as they could before 1949 as British subjects; they are not regarded in law as foreigners.[2][8]
    For local, supralocal (Greater London Authority) and regional (Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales, Northern Ireland Assembly) elections, EU citizens, enjoy the same rights as Commonwealth citizens.[82]
    Under Elected Authorities (Northern Ireland) Act 1989, local electors in Northern Ireland were either Commonwealth citizens or citizens of the Republic of Ireland, the Representation of the People Act 2000 replaced that section by "a Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or a relevant citizen of the Union".[83]
    The Representation of the People Act 2000 also introduced a new system of electoral registration, with 2 electoral registers, one for parliamentary elections, one for local elections:[84]
    • "A person is entitled to vote as an elector at a parliamentary election in any constituency if on the date of the poll he (...)(c) is either a Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland"; "A person is entitled to be registered in the register of parliamentary electors for any constituency or part of a constituency if on the relevant date he (...) (c) is either a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland"
    • "A person is entitled to vote as an elector at a local government election in any electoral area if on the date of the poll he (...)(c) is a Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or a relevant citizen of the Union"; "A person is entitled to be registered in the register of local government electors for any electoral area if on the relevant date he (...) (c) is a qualifying Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or a relevant citizen of the Union"
    • "In this section “qualifying Commonwealth citizen” means a Commonwealth citizen who either"
      • (a) is not a person who requires leave under the [1971 c. 77.] Immigration Act 1971 to enter or remain in the United Kingdom, or
      • (b) is such a person but for the time being has (or is, by virtue of any enactment, to be treated as having) any description of such leave"

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_roll#United_Kingdom
    In the United Kingdom, the right and obligation to register for voting extends to all British, Republic of Ireland, Commonwealth and European Union citizens. British citizens living overseas may register for up to 15 years after they were last registered at an address in the UK.[1] It is possible for someone to register before their 18th birthday as long as they will reach that age before the next revision of the register.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_roll#Ireland
    While all residents can be registered voting in Ireland depends on citizenship. All residents are entitled to vote in local authority elections. Irish and EU citizens may vote in European parliament elections. Irish and UK citizens may vote in elections to Dáil Éireann. Only Irish citizens may vote in elections for the President and in constitutional referendums.


  • #56
    Notorious97
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,479 ✭✭✭Notorious97


    Deleted User wrote: »
    Its like debating a creationist. There's just no point.

    Why? because if we believe in a higher being and contradict science we are idiots?


  • #57
    mike65
    Closed Accounts Posts: 88,968 ✭✭✭✭mike65


    Kintarō Hattori wrote: »
    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.

    :D Its hard to argue with someone who is a militant esp one who will make a small exception for " a few brits voting for fine gael" That clearly contradictory. I presume the same ideology would be okay by Kev ps3 if all the Irish were turfed out of every country around the world. How many millions is that? and would it follow down the generations? This island could get crowded.


  • #58
    Raedwald
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 375 ✭✭Raedwald


    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?

    For me that is a brilliant thing. If I was living, working, paying tax etc in the country I would want the ability to have my small little say through my vote on matters that effect me in the country that I am living etc.

    Also the Republic of Ireland is Independent of the UK. However as a country of only 4 million or so people, we rely heavily on the UK that has a population of 60+ million people and alot bigger economy as they are our nearest neighbours.


  • #59
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 2,960 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Notorious97 wrote: »
    Why? because if we believe in a higher being and contradict science we are idiots?

    In a nutshell, yes.


  • #60
    Notorious97
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,479 ✭✭✭Notorious97


    Deleted User wrote: »
    In a nutshell, yes.


    Thats a ridiculous observation, this is off topic but i wouldnt called you an idiot for your belief even if i dont agree with them. I dont ram my views on being a Republican either down peoples throats, or think unionists are idiots for not agreeing with me.

    Im guessing you are looking to stir **** by making comments like that

    Anyway back on topic, As i said earliar i dont see the problem with foreign people who are full time residents here voting, they live by our rules, they may aswell vote for them.


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  • #61
    PeteEd
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 393 ✭✭PeteEd


    Blah blah blah blah

    dey took our votes!!!

    800 years

    Blah blah blah blah

    Lighthouses

    Blah blah blah blah

    *goes blue in the face talking sh#te*

    OP if you're resident you can vote, no big deal really


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