To ask what way to vote in Northern Ireland to secure the best chance of a functioning government back?

[Confuddledtown]

So next thursday we have the chance to change the status quo of the 1000+ days we've had of no government.

My initial reaction would be to avoid our big 2 parties like a plague as they have proven that they are not fit for purpose.

But from conversations, social media and discussions we seem to be doomed to repeat our same mistakes and continue to vote religiously for our big two, with each side saying oh well you have to vote for x otherwise y will outnumber us.

How about get some decent policies out. Address how you are going to fix the mess you have got us into. Work on how you are going to work together. AIBU to be frustrated that as per usual they're scaremongering at all?

I guess my real question is, who are the best parties to vote for tactically to create the most change?

I don’t think that next weeks election will have any impact upon whether there’s an assembly in NI or not. False promises from parties are meaningless.

Vote next week on who you want to represent you in Westminster. I don’t think it impacts at all on whether the melas in NI will take their seats or not.

I'm undecided how to vote yet but I genuinely believe Stormont is finished and direct rule is inevitable. I've not had a single canvasser visit my home and that's really starting to irritate me.I'd be quite personality led so I do want to meet the candidates.I've been really struck by the current nursing strike and the horrendous state of our health service but I don't see any party out there supporting them or questioning the mess we're in.
Animal welfare and environmental issues are also of great significance to me and both issues are a real weakness for us here.

I'm in England but I'm frustrated on your behalf, OP. NI has been particularly badly treated by the tosspots in no.10 of late.

The worst way you could vote is Sinn Fein- no representation in Stormont and none in Westminster. What is the point in that? But still they'll keep getting votes 🤦🏻‍♀️

I know who I’m not voting for, DUP never ! and I agree with PP that the mess in Stormont is beyond redemption.

I’m in east Antrim and could never vote dup but will always get Sammy Wilson. I vote alliance knowing my vote is meaningless as mr Wilson has a majority of 40%. The vote for your Westminster MP has no bearing on your stormont mla. I couldn’t vote Sinn Féin in a westminister election as they don’t take their seats and I want someone to represent me. I can’t vote dup as, well dup - I’m from a unionist background and if I had to choose between those two it would be Sinn Fein. Our politics are truly broken in a way I don’t feel they have been in all the time I could vote. I wish I could vote none of the above, spoil my ballot in a way which shows my disgust and also my engagement.