Likely Date for Lisbon Referendum

[Joe Ryan]

I've just seen that the likely date for the Lisbon Referendum is Thursday June 5th. Given that many schools are closed at the time and that many teachers who often work as polling clerks or presiding officers may be unavailable as they may be away on a holiday, could this be a logistic problem?
In my own case I've holidays booked and won't be here so I cannot vote. I tried to book on the France boat but it was already booked out that week. Is it not a miscalculation to organise a referendum on Europe when the very people who you would expect to vote for the referendum are out of the country. After all the 2002 General Election date was picked to facilitate fans going to the World Cup.
Surely a better date than this

[NotDevsSon]

Where did you see that date?

[TradCat]

Secondary schools are closed in June. Primary schools, where we vote, are not.

[Edo]

Interesting - I have it on pretty good authority that its going to be 29th May

[Joe Ryan]

date mentioned on www.eircom.net

Secondary schools are open for that week as the state exams start on June 4. Secondary teachers are often supervising same.
Primary schools are closed for that week (in Wexford and I ppresume elsewhere too) as the monday is the June Bank Holiday. There has been a tendency since the introduction of standardisation to introduce an unofficial mid-term break around the June Bank Holiday week-end when secondary schools are cose for class and this may impact on the referendum if June 5 is the date.

[irish_goat]

Won't the teachers still be around at the 5th of June as exams are on then.?The schools close but that's not the actual start of the summer holidays.

And you can vote by post surely?

[Joe Ryan]

A postal vote is notl available if you're on holidays. most polling stations are primary schools

[R Paul]

Won't the teachers still be around at the 5th of June as exams are on then.?The schools close but that's not the actual start of the summer holidays.

And you can vote by post surely?

Aren't postal votes limited to members of the Defence Forces serving abroad and some severally disabled people? I don't think it is an option for members of the general public...

[irish_goat]

[quote=R Paul]

Won't the teachers still be around at the 5th of June as exams are on then.?The schools close but that's not the actual start of the summer holidays.

And you can vote by post surely?

Aren't postal votes limited to members of the Defence Forces serving abroad and some severally disabled people? I don't think it is an option for members of the general public...[/quote:2z9ev0e4]

Ah you're right. I'm using it since I'm at college in Wales, so I assumed more people would qualify.
Info

[Kate P]

date mentioned on www.eircom.net

Secondary schools are open for that week as the state exams start on June 4. Secondary teachers are often supervising same.
Primary schools are closed for that week (in Wexford and I ppresume elsewhere too) as the monday is the June Bank Holiday. There has been a tendency since the introduction of standardisation to introduce an unofficial mid-term break around the June Bank Holiday week-end when secondary schools are cose for class and this may impact on the referendum if June 5 is the date.

Regardless where teachers are, I think it's unlikely that the government would choose to run the referendum during the Leaving Cert.