The location of Polling Stations - disgusted...

[bobbysands81]

I live in Finglas and my Polling Station is in the Morton Stadium in Santry.

I'm not too sure how far away it is but would estimate 5-6 kilometres.
Now I know that our country cousins are probably laughing at the idea that I'm complaining about my polling station being so close (as they'd see it) but... in between where I live and Morton Stadium there are many many schools and/or community centres which could have been used as our local polling station.

5-6k is a is a long journey in traffic in Dublin and this will definitely turn people off going to vote. It's not as if you go through Santry to get to town from Finglas, it is difficult to get to and out of the way. There are also no buses that go from my area to Santry. Unless you have a car, are prepared to get a taxi to vote, or endure at least an hour and a half on a bus journey into town and back out to Santry then it will be nigh on impossible for you to vote.

Generally speaking I am gone from my house at 7am in the morning and don't return until 7pm in the evening. If I spend less than 2 of those hours travelling to and from work then I've done well. That leaves me with very little time to exercise my constitutional right. Thankfully, I've already sorted a lift to the polling station, but due to utter incompetence in choosing a Polling Station so far away from where people live, many many others won't be bothered.

People should be encouraged to vote, placing obstacles like this in the way is unhelpful.

[johnfás]

Its virtually government policy to put obstacles in the way of people who they think may not vote for them, haven't you gathered this yet??

[the crimson chin]

I think this is a bogus issue. I suppose if the polling station was in Finglas someone from Santry would be on complaining its too far away from them. You cant satisfy everybody. Your very selfish bobbysands81 if you think polling stations should favour you and only you. If you want to vote you will make it to vote. Stop whining cos its 5-6km from your house.

Also we're a country of just over 3m people but we have more polling stations per capita than any other EU country. Just because its not next door to you doesnt mean its unfair.

[Catalpa]

That's truly bizarre!

If you live in Finglas surely you should be able to vote in Finglas?

Are there no Polling Stations in Finglas at all?

[Podolski]

It seems totally unfair that a suburb as large as Finglas would not have local polling stations, unless you happen to be living right on the edge of Finglas and are regarded as being in Santry. In some countries you can vote in your local supermarket or post office but then again they have electronic voting and we all know what happened here with regard to e-voting. Take a bow Mr. Cullen, you're the class idiot alright.

[KingKane]

Sounds like a strange one, could the addition of the areas from DNC have affected the polling location. Honestly, can't see the location as being much use to those on the east of the M1 either.

[bobbysands81]

I think this is a bogus issue. I suppose if the polling station was in Finglas someone from Santry would be on complaining its too far away from them. You cant satisfy everybody. Your very selfish bobbysands81 if you think polling stations should favour you and only you. If you want to vote you will make it to vote. Stop whining cos its 5-6km from your house.

Also we're a country of just over 3m people but we have more polling stations per capita than any other EU country. Just because its not next door to you doesnt mean its unfair.

I think you're missing the point. There is a wealth of places close to where I live that could be used as polling stations - but for some reason aren't.

I would not expect someone from Santry to vote in Finglas. Is Santry even in the same constituency. There are many polling stations much closer than Santry - why not use these???

Who said I want them to favour me??? I didn't, I'm making the point that the polling stations should favour the people in general, not me as an individual. I'm thinking of the old, the infirm, people with kids, pregnant women, people who are carers, people on shift work, people who are disabled, people who can't afford a taxi to take them to the polling station etc... - are you calling them selfish? There is absolutely no way for people to get to Santry from where I live unless they have a car and oodles of time to sit through traffic.

Polling stations should be in the community where you live - this polling station is nowhere near the community I live in. Do you object to that?

Luckily I am able to take the time out to go and vote - many others won't because it is made very difficult for them to vote.

Don't worry though I will vote - and I will exercise my vote to candidates who are willing to make a difference to help all the people outlined above.

[michael1965]

I live in Finglas and my Polling Station is in the Morton Stadium in Santry.

What part of Finglas do you live in?

[QuizMaster]

That's mad.
I live in a rural area and have less than 1km to travel.

[bobbysands81]

I live in Finglas and my Polling Station is in the Morton Stadium in Santry.

What part of Finglas do you live in?

Just off the Jamestown Road. I think we're part of Fingal though most of the surrounding area is DCC, they're trying to change the whole area to Fingal as far as I know, using the M50 as the natural boundary.