Illegal Immigrant Voting

[Odyessus]

A spokesman for Dublin City Council appeared on RTE news tonight saying that the Council was encouraging all immigrants to vote in the local elections. According to RTE all residents may vote "regardless of their status."

What is the rationale for allowing and even encouraging illegal immigrants to vote? Would it be unreasonable to stipulate that one must be legally resident here before one can part in a democratic election?

[Catalpa]

A spokesman for Dublin City Council appeared on RTE news tonight saying that the Council was encouraging all immigrants to vote in the local elections. According to RTE all residents may vote "regardless of their status."

What is the rationale for allowing and even encouraging illegal immigrants to vote? Would it be unreasonable to stipulate that one must be legally resident here before one can part in a democratic election?

It's more likely that the spokesman is in over his head on this one.

I'm pretty certain illegal immigrants don't have the right to vote but for certain at this stage a hell of a lot of legally resident immigrants do.

I think next year is going to come as a rude shock to the Irish voting public when they see the number of council seats that are captured by racial candidates.

IMO only Irish Citizens should have the right to vote in Irish Elections.

[David Cochrane]

I think your thread title is missing a question mark, as you're asking a question, not making an allegation - at least that's what you're trying to do - but are you actually making an allegation?

Unlike referenda, general and presidential elections, local elections are about residency (living somewhere) not citizenship.

Now, whether you want to turn this into a racist "they shouldn't be able to vote" thread, that's quite another thing..........

[Odyessus]

I think your thread title is missing a question mark, as you're asking a question, not making an allegation - at least that's what you're trying to do - but are you actually making an allegation?

Unlike referenda, general and presidential elections, local elections are about residency (living somewhere) not citizenship.

Now, whether you want to turn this into a racist "they shouldn't be able to vote" thread, that's quite another thing..........

My question refers not to the race of the voters, but to their legal status.

[FutureTaoiseach]

Surely the law is that you still have to be registered to vote? If they are not on the register they can't vote right? I know that non-citizens can vote in local elections, but they must still be registered to vote. Once you go down the road of allowing people not on the register to vote, you get ACORN type fraud.

[agora]

A valid point has been raised here. I for one am in no doubt that at the next local elections we will see crushing victories for Hizb al Tahir, the Black Panthers & whatever crazy radical party the Poles come up with to enslave us. Or perhaps not. The truth is that the Irish political system has little to fear from active political engagement by foreign born residents. The civil war parties will simply pander to whatever idiotic demands they make & then just ignore them as much as possible when elected (though making sure to pay occasional lip service to their interests). Pretty much the same way they engage with native Irish citizens.

[Catalpa]

I think your thread title is missing a question mark, as you're asking a question, not making an allegation - at least that's what you're trying to do - but are you actually making an allegation?

Unlike referenda, general and presidential elections, local elections are about residency (living somewhere) not citizenship.

Now, whether you want to turn this into a racist "they shouldn't be able to vote" thread, that's quite another thing..........

Can't see how having an opinion that only Irish Citizens should vote in Irish Elections is remotely 'racist'.

Pretty certain Irish people can't vote in elections in Nigeria, China or Poland

-and that's fine by me

- if Irish people there want to vote let them take out citizenship in those countries!

Might be worth pointing out that up until 1984 only Irish Citizens could vote in General Elections here - but I don't think anyone suggested it was 'racist' that non Irish citizens couldn't.

Even now Referenda and the Presidential elections are only open to Irish Citizens - is it 'racist' to advocate it should stay that way?

[Odyessus]

It's more likely that the spokesman is in over his head on this one.

I'm pretty certain illegal immigrants don't have the right to vote but for certain at this stage a hell of a lot of legally resident immigrants do.

I think next year is going to come as a rude shock to the Irish voting public when they see the number of council seats that are captured by racial candidates.

IMO only Irish Citizens should have the right to vote in Irish Elections.

In fairness I don't think it was the spokesman for the Council who made the "regardless of status" remark. It was either the reporter or a man who was trying to encourage immigrants to register. He said many were reluctant to reveal their details to the authorities, while he was re-assuring them that the information could not be used against them.

[Odyessus]

Surely the law is that you still have to be registered to vote? If they are not on the register they can't vote right? I know that non-citizens can vote in local elections, but they must still be registered to vote. Once you go down the road of allowing people not on the register to vote, you get ACORN type fraud.

I did not mean to suggest that the Council was encouraging non-registered people to vote; they are encouraging people to register in the first place.

[foxhill]

I think ILLEGAL immigrants cant vote in any elections in Ireland. I doubt even they give a B*L**ks about elections! they are too busy doin there things!

I think reporter made a mistake while saying 'regardless of their stauts or how long they been in Ireland'

may be reporter was talking about
*ppls from Europe,
*ppls on work permit
*and Non EU students.

I think above all are eligble to vote atleast at local elections given they r legally present in Ireland. (I m not sure about there time spent in Ireland though)

Now anybody HAS problem with that too??!!!

well atleast they got 'little power' too. may be 'more' in future!!
hope few politicians will think about them too!!