DugDog writes:
I’m going to be away with work when the referendum is on. You know the one. I was wondering if I can still vote even though I’m out of the country? I heard you can’t vote abroad unless you are a servant of the State, e.g diplomats and soldiers. Is it possible to vote by post or anything? I haven’t emigrated or anything. I still live here.
(Mark Stedman, Photocall)
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No.
And there we have it. I’m in the same boat, unfortunately.
stop saying that. the only thing you’re in that i’ve been in is this f*cking bath.
Has he just been busted?
That’s not true
https://www.facebook.com/panti/posts/943873032289612:0
Not sure. Ring the franchise section of Dublin City Council. They handle all this type of stuff for all the county councils in Dublin. Someone there will know I’m sure.
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/moving_to_ireland/introduction_to_the_irish_system/right_to_vote.html
Ask around for an abstaining voter to be your proxy. They’re in abundance at general and local elections – less so for referenda.
In 2012, I had to be out of the country for a wedding that was announced long before the referendum in May of that year was confirmed. There was no provision for me to vote. This year, I might well be out of the country for a christening on the date of the referendum. Not wanting to be disenfranchised again, I contacted a number of TDs explaining the situation, and asked them if there were any plans to extend postal voting rights for people like us who are resident here but will not be here on that date. A question was asked of the Minister for the Environment, Community, and Local Government, and in his reply, he said:
“Postal voting is provided for in electoral law in respect of certain categories of person who are entered in the register of electors – whole-time members of the Defence Forces; members of An Garda Síochána; Irish diplomats serving abroad and their spouses or civil partners; electors living at home who are unable to vote because of a physical illness or a physical disability; electors whose occupation, service or employment makes it likely that they will be unable to vote in person at their local polling station on polling day and full-time students registered at their home who are living elsewhere while attending an educational institution in the State; certain election staff employed at the poll outside the constituency where they reside; and electors who because of the circumstances of their detention in prison pursuant to an order of a court are likely to be unable to go in person on polling day to vote.
Qualifying voters can apply to their local authority for inclusion in the postal voters lists.
Electors who are eligible for, but not already included in, the postal voters list may apply for entry into the supplement to these lists. Such applications must be received by the registration authority at least 22 days (not including Sundays, Good Friday or Public Holidays) before polling day at a referendum in order to be considered for that referendum.
While electoral law is subject to ongoing review, I have no proposals at present to extend existing arrangements for postal voting. In responding to the recommendation of the Constitution on the Convention in their fourth report that there should be greater access to postal voting, the Government proposed that an electoral commission be tasked in due course with considering the issue and advising in detail on the electoral and operational implications, including costs, of implementing change in this area.”
So basically, no, you’ll be denied of your right to vote while reform is put on the long finger. I’m very annoyed about this, will keep asking my representatives and the Minister to do something about it, and would encourage you and anyone likewise affected to do the same, otherwise this scenario will keep coming up, and resident voters will be disenfranchised for no reason.
‘electors whose occupation, service or employment makes it likely that they will be unable to vote in person at their local polling station on polling day’
does that not cover it?
you know, if i was you i’d send the vote in anyway.
Unlucky.
It would probably be too open to fraud (people no longer living in the country could pretend that they were just out of the country temporarily, etc.)
Just get someone to vote for you.
Early and often!
You’re not being denied anything.
You are choosing to be out of the country while the vote is on.
Put away the offence ray.
Summary: Can I vote when I’m off on a holidays for a week?
No?
This country is messed up!
Not at all, how do you expect the state to determine if everyone is away fro a week or away for good. Would you be happy with a government that was elected based on preferences of people who do not have to live with the consequences of their votes. Your opinion is messed up. We have one of the most representative electoral systems in the world.
I do have to live with the consequences of the vote here. I’m resident, a taxpayer and a registered voter. Why isn’t there provision for me and others like me who will be obligated to be out of the country on that one day?
Not to split hairs here, but you weren’t obliged to attend either of those events; you chose to attend them.
I did feel obliged to attend the wedding of my only sibling, especially when asked to act as Best Man, and the christening of his child. When weddings are planned a lot further than the three months in advance we’ve been given on this year’s referendum and that in 2012, it’s less about choice than committments previously made. And in any case, I don’t understand why I couldn’t do both, and that’s the root of my frustration.
Nope, its the law. They have to have a bible present for swearing on. you’re fecked if you’re an atheist without ID.
Doesnt really matter, will pass by about 80%
Not if all the yes side are away on holidays and at christenings and at the Eurovision.
Don’t be so sure.
“We can’t have men & women gettin’ married”
twas: “min and wimmin gettin’ mar-rid” …. followed by “I’ll be on the telly so” happy smile.
I still want my say.
Then stay in the country.
That’s the kind of apathetic, unhelpful response that will continue to ensure that any of us who are, for example, attending the marriage of a sibling in a different country, get punished for it. This isn’t just about my situation, there are at least two of us here affected by this, and no doubt there are many more, but I’ll keep asking about it, because there is no reason for the lack of provision in place for this circumstance. You can accept disenfranchisement if you want, I want to question it.
The only mistake you made here was engaging with a trolling idiot on the internet
@Wait for it – This piece says : “electors whose occupation, service or employment makes it likely that they will be unable to vote in person at their local polling station on polling day “. The original question from DugDog says he wil be out of the country on work so from my reading of what you have posted, he would be entitled to seek a postal vote?
A quick google of this tells me the following postal categories are available :
PV1 – Disabled Postal voter (physical illness/disability)
PV2 – Circumstances of Occupation
RFB – Registration of Garda Síochána
RFC – Registration of Defence Force Members
SV5 – Registration of Civil Servants serving outside the State
RFG – Prisoners
Looks like PV2 is the one DugDog should enquire about at the relevant local authority.
I’m not clear on that myself. I’m going to keep asking about this because I’m really infuriated by how casually I’m being robbed of my right to vote.
You are not being robbed of your right to anything.
Unless it’s your friends who are making you leave the country.
Please see up the page for the explanation as to why this is an issue for me. And I’m sure of you thought about it, there are many circumstances in which someone might have to be out of the country on a particular day.
That would require him to use his brain assuming he had one
Since when can prisoners vote?
Since 2006 it looks like from this : http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/prison_system/prisoners_rights.html
I forgot about that stupid Amendment
Ever since the inaugural Miss Mountjoy competition in 1979.
The last time I voted I was asked to provide ID, as is the norm. As I fannyed about trying to find my passport the assistant said I could just swear on the bible (he actually had one in front of him and I checked if he was serious). So if you really want to vote in absentia why not just get a friend to pop into a polling station and swear on the bible for you?
seriously? That sounds like an episode of Father Ted. They should put that nugget of information up alongside that article that featured in BILD about one of those Healy-Rae’s advocating drinking and driving in rural areas.
Yep, in fact I’m considering doing it anyway this time round, I would find it hugely and satisfactorily ironic to swear on the bible before voting for gay marriage.
http://sluggerotoole.com/2011/02/14/swearing-on-a-bible-to-claim-your-vote-on-25-february/
This mentions a list of accepted proof of name, including statements which are obviously only proof of address.
You might have to swear on the bible on the way out also. A sort of precautionary soul-cleansing event.
Staff are supposed to ask 1 in 4 people for ID. Everyone is supposed to bring ID. If they agree they can let you swear but they don’t have to.
well I am blown away by this…. Ireland a great little place to do business. This fail-proof system of ensuring honesty should be applied on a much broader context!
The revenue should operate like this!
Revenue”So your company only had an annual turnover of 10k last year?” takes side-long glance at 2015 7 series BMW with cream leather interior and all the bells and whistles.
You ” Absolutely”
Revenue (turning the screws) “would you be willing to swear that on the bible?”
Job done….
That actually sounds like Revenue’s ‘presumption of honesty’.
Be quiet you silly bollocks
Away with work… away with your gay lover more like.
Maybe DugDog is laying temporary cables in Vienna for the Eurovision.
Voters in New South Wales can vote online in the upcoming elections if they are away
http://www.ivote.nsw.gov.au/
And French expats can vote online
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/11/idUS79215+11-Jul-2012+BW20120711
disclaimer: I work for the provider
FFS do people know anything anymore. They e-mail BS to find out something really f*cking obvious.
i’ve always wanted to know how light travels in waves and straight lines at the same time.
Particle on a wave.
I wouldn’t worry about it too much. One vote won’t swing it either way.
Swinging either way is another referendum, but the natural next step because the gay marriage is just the thin end of the wedge, you see.
Every vote counts, remember the divorce referendum, bloody close.
Divorce Referendum results
Yes 818,842 50.28
No 809,728 49.72
Now that is scary. ..
That is, as has repeatedly been stated, a dangerous assumption to make. If enough people on one side assume others will take care of it or that it’s a foregone conclusion, the other side’s greater engagement could carry the day, regardless of opinion polls.
DugDog – I’m flying back for it, if that helps a little.
Fair play Kieran
I’m Not planning on being gay soon or fetching a gay guy as a marriage partner either but I’m also voting for the referendum if that helps DugDog
Me too.