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About LinkBacksWhat's the craic with this? Is it possible to be registered as Brien, Paddy O' on the ballot, or do some politicians just drop the O' or Mac/Mc altogether, so as to appear higher on the ballot in alphabetical order. Is it common practise?
What's the craic with this? Is it possible to be registered as Brien, Paddy O' on the ballot, or do some politicians just drop the O' or Mac/Mc altogether, so as to appear higher on the ballot in alphabetical order. Is it common practise?
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Some do it seems. Eamon O'Cuiv did it in 2002, and was "Cuiv, Eamon O" on the ballot paper IIRC.
Vivian O'Callaghan did it as an FF candidate in the 1980s in Cork South West - stood as Vivian Callaghan. Breandán MacGearailt stood, I think, in an Údaras na Gaeltachta election as Breandán Ac Geaailt in order to be on top of the ballot paper (I'm open to correction on this).
thats not correct. "eamon cuiv" (if that is his real name) dropped the "O" by deed poll in 2002Originally Posted by Cashel Hill
how utterly pathetic is that?
another stunt was beverly flynn-cooper, who (in a first for posh double barrelled names) decided to switch the order to get placed further up the ballot paper
she has since divorced mr. cooper and found a new sugar daddy. unfortunately though his surname doesnt begin with the letters A-D so she cant get any further up the list next may
Bit of a stunt to do that..
is that so they can get transfers off the people who just go, 1, 2, 3 etc. from top to bottom instead of actually voting properly?
Incidentally, if you can't be bothered to vote properly, instead of doing that, start from the bottom. It'll play havoc with the people pulling that stunt! :wink:
"The fact that some posters here are better informed than a lot of our political reps, on economic matters, scares the bejesus out of them." limericklady
Bit of a stunt to do that..
is that so they can get transfers off the people who just go, 1, 2, 3 etc. from top to bottom instead of actually voting properly?
More people do it than you might imagine.
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Technically, if you're sorting items alphabetically in Irish, you're supposed to ignore the "O'" or the "Mc"/"Mac" (and Uí, Nic, etc).
A lot of people do their 1, 2, 3 or whatever, for the ones they know, then start at the top and think about which ones they're willing to give a preference to and do them in alphabetical order. (Sort of skimming down the remaining ballot paper and handing out preferences as you see a name/party you don't hate). It might not get you any extra 1s, but it might get you some 4s or 5s. They can make all the difference in a tight race.
It can make quite a difference for candidates from the bigger parties - where there are 3 candidates from one party on the ballot paper, the number of hardcore party supporters who just rank them 1, 2, 3, from the top down is not insignificant. It would be a small number of voters, but it's a reliable pattern and a candidate will always look to seize any advantage over his/her running mates.
Good point Ryano. Very important for FFers, I suppose (more likely to have 3 candidates and more likely to have voters who'll only vote for that party and none others).
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