Start a votes for emigrant campaign?

[wee slabber]

Should someone, some organised body, begin pushing to have the vote for a president given to emigrants? This could start with Irish emigrants, in all corners of the world, being asked to send an email to the Taoiseach's office at the same time and on the same day demanding the vote in the next election. All party leaders could be copied on the same email. It will give the emigrants a sense of empowerment, and make send a strong message. Any thoughts on this?

[BlackLion]

I know some people (like sidney) will emigrate if SG is voted in, kinda want to vote for SG just for that alone.

also this should have been said awhile back to have any affect. next tho.

[statsman]

Why?

[wee slabber]

Why?

It is quite the norm in other countries to give their diaspora the vote. After all, the President is the symbol of all things, and people Irish. A vote would give the emigrants a sense of still belonging and being part of their native country.

[The Caped Cod]

Should someone, some organised body, begin pushing to have the vote for a president given to emigrants? This could start with Irish emigrants, in all corners of the world, being asked to send an email to the Taoiseach's office at the same time and on the same day demanding the vote in the next election. All party leaders could be copied on the same email. It will give the emigrants a sense of empowerment, and make send a strong message. Any thoughts on this?

I used to be for this for presidential campaigns and constituional referndum but after this absolute farce I'd give up the presidential thing.

[Dylan2010]

waste of money if you ask me

[Bagman]

Would the Emigrants not tought it out here if they want a vote?

[sauntersplash]

It is quite the norm in other countries to give their diaspora the vote. After all, the President is the symbol of all things, and people Irish. A vote would give the emigrants a sense of still belonging and being part of their native country.

If they want to feel Irish, let them move to Ireland. I know of a few better things on which my tax money could be spent than giving a stranger half way around the world a warm fuzzy feeling.

[kkkkkkkkkk]

Should someone, some organised body, begin pushing to have the vote for a president given to emigrants? This could start with Irish emigrants, in all corners of the world, being asked to send an email to the Taoiseach's office at the same time and on the same day demanding the vote in the next election. All party leaders could be copied on the same email. It will give the emigrants a sense of empowerment, and make send a strong message. Any thoughts on this?

great idea

long overdue

a lot of these people emigrated for economic reasons

not for a trip around the world

a lot not all would like their kids to grow up in Ireland if they could

so they are still very very connected to Ireland

and want to see the right people in office, if that is ever possible

a big example is this election where an FF candidate is possibly going to get elected by the tick die hards in Ireland

if an emigrant had a vote they may not give a FF candidate a vote cause FF caused a lot to leave Ireland


also I think a lot of other countries let their emigrants vote in national elections

e.g. USA, ( maybe wrong there )


this kind of idea brings better ties between emigrants and the old country

and maybe some business people may opt to open a factory or office in Ireland

because of these ties

[80sEmigrant]

BallotBox.ie carried out a symbolic poll for Irish people abroad which was intended as a symbolic gesture to indicate the level of support for extending the franchise to Expats. 2,581 people took part.
My own opinion on this that it's not going to happen because no government would have an interest in giving the vote to people who, to a large extent, left the country in dissatisfaction.
I myself am in the unhappy situation that I have never been allowed to vote in a national election anywhere because I left Ireland as a child and am still an Irish citizen. I would be more in favour of allowing people to vote in the country they live in, irrespective of nationality, but giving votes to expats would certainly be a step forward from the status quo which leaves people like me completely disenfranchised. Maybe more recent emigrants could be given a choice where they want to vote (incidently that's what happens in European elections for expat citizens of countries who do have a vote in their native country). There are several possibly solutions I could live with, but I do wish that this could be adressed in some way...