Why do we not have a postal vote

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pinkyBear

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It seems that in this day and age that we should! I mean US citizens have a postal vote, why cant we??
P..
 
Why should we?

Who does it benefit apart from people on holiday?

Also there is no real guarantee that the voter is the one actually voting is there?
 
DB74 said:
Who does it benefit apart from people on holiday?
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People on holiday, people who are working away, thousands of students who may not be in the vicinity of their polling stations depending on the day the vote is held, people in hospital, people with mobility issues who cannot get to a polling station easily.

There could be a few thousand in the above.

Edit: Just checked citizens information and we DO have postal voting, and it does include most of who I stated above (I forgot prisoners!):

Postal Voters List

You will normally be required to vote in person at an official voting centre but you may be eligible for a postal vote if you are:
  • An Irish diplomat or his/her spouse posted abroad
  • A member of the Garda Síochána
  • A whole-time member of the Defence Forces.
You may also be eligible for a postal vote if you cannot go to a polling station because:
  • Of a physical illness or disability
  • You are studying full time at an educational institution in Ireland, which is away from your home address where you are registered
  • You are unable to vote at your polling station because of your occupation
  • You are unable to vote at your polling station because you are in prison as a result of an order of a court.
Applications for inclusion on the Postal Voters List must be received by 25 November at the latest.
If you are registered as a postal voter, you may vote by post only. You may not vote at a polling station.
Supplement to the Postal Voters List

If you are eligible for the postal voter list but are not included, you can apply for inclusion in the relevant supplement to the lists.
The latest date for receipt of applications is two days after the date of dissolution of the Dáil in the case of a general election or two days after the order appointing polling day for other elections or referenda.
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You are unable to vote at your polling station because of your occupation
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Could you state your "occupation" or "lack of" which lead to emigration entitles you to a vote???
P.
 
Why should you get a vote if you don't live here?
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Why shouldn't you get a vote if you are abroad? US citizens have the right to vote for their president while they are abroad.

If you are forced (or not) to emigrate due to personal circumstances - such as a lack of employment - why should the state prohibit you from voting?
 
Because if you don't live here then a TD doesn't represent you anymore

If you've chosen to live abroad then you shouldn't get a vote in an election in what's effectively a foreign country
 
I wouldn't regard the US electoral system as any sort of model either
 
DB74 I think if you look at the list posted by truthseeker above, all those eligible would be anyone who lives in Ireland but cannot make it to their polling station on election day (for the reasons outlined in that post). There is nothing saying those who don't live in Ireland are entitled to a vote. Of course I am assuming that anyone posted abroad for work reasons would still consider that they live in Ireland.
 
I read that list and appreciate that some people live abroad or are sick or whatever and I have no problem with those people voting by postal means.

pinkyBear is arguing for a postal vote for emigrants which I disagree with
 
pinkyBear is arguing for a postal vote for emigrants which I disagree with
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Why though? I know that Irish people living abroad will not be represented, however they are still Irish Citizens for as long as they don't renege on their citizenship..
 
Well to give my tuppence worth pinkyBear, it should be for the tax payers of the country to decide who should manage the country (including the use of those taxes). By tax payer I mean that every citizen living in the country is a tax payer of sorts (be it PAYE, VAT on purchases, etc.). Those who emigrate to another country have made the choice to become part of that country so I see no reason why they should have a say in how our taxes should be managed.
 
I do understand where you are coming from CB, now I am not saying the US model is the best model to use! But all US citizens at home and abroad are allowed to vote. Despite the fact that obviously they are abroad they don't pay tax, yet they can vote for the president, I am not sure if they can vote for senators.

There is another thing, just because a person emigrates does not mean they do not influence events in Ireland, look at the emigrants of the 50's sending money home..
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I'm the only member of my family who lives abroad. I'm not overly hung-up on having a vote. I would, however, ask why I can't vote (as an irish citizen) for a candidate who would, in my opinion, do good for the remaining members of my family in Ireland. Indeed I might have to return to Ireland during the lifetime of the next Dail and so would like to return to a regime in which I had a say in forming. I'm still a passport-carrying irish citizen after all.
 
pinkyBear said:
Why though? I know that Irish people living abroad will not be represented, however they are still Irish Citizens for as long as they don't renege on their citizenship..
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So should those Irish living abroad not be eligible to vote in the election of the country in which they do live and work and pay tax?

And should foreign nationals living in Ireland not be allowed to vote as they aren't Irish Citizens?
 
Ancutza said:
I'm the only member of my family who lives abroad. I'm not overly hung-up on having a vote. I would, however, ask why I can't vote (as an irish citizen) for a candidate who would, in my opinion, do good for the remaining members of my family in Ireland. Indeed I might have to return to Ireland during the lifetime of the next Dail and so would like to return to a regime in which I had a say in forming. I'm still a passport-carrying irish citizen after all.
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There is a perception that people who live abroad, in America in particular, would more than likely vote Sinn Fein. It's all those Irish pubs and mixing only with other Irish people that encourages this view of Sinn Fein as the only party which is "really" Irish
 
Prisoners don't currently have the vote here in England, though there is increasing pressure to give it to them.
 
Given our high level of emigration which gov.t's have used to export our people abroad to relieve unemployment at home, I'm all in favour for them having a vote. Our forced emigrants are the ultimate victims of failed gov.t policies. They deserve to pass judgement on the people who made them leave their homeland.
 
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