Election 2024 . Not that one, though the Trump victory is sure to influence some of what we are threatened and promised. presumably we'll have a date soon.

[DeanElderberry]

Any wise thoughts?

Voting for Aontu is not liberal, however they may kid themselves!

Voting for Aontu isn't far right, however much people might like to console themselves by saying otherwise.

The lack of understanding about the differences between left and right in politics is a new (aka 10-15 year old) thing but seems very widespread. The old political compass test must be quite confusing for a lot of people.

https://www.politicalcompass.org/test

as ever, I come in as left libertarian

People can have vastly different opinions on different things though. It's this lumping of all things together that causes tension and reduces someone to a left or right with no context. You can be strongly against closing operating hotels and yet very supportive of helping asylum seekers. You can embrace migrant workers while wanting strict regulation about border control. You can be religious and Catholic but supportive of LBTQ rights, the list goes on.

Reading the last 11-20 posts reminds me again why I always listen to the wind blowing before I answer any voting polls.

Give the answer of least resistance and then vote as I want to.

Some of the posts have been quite judgemental of other people's voting choices.

My friend has two Eoin O'Broins on her ballot paper in Dublin MW. The first Eoin is SF and the second is Soc Dem. Alphabetically by party I presume.

There might be a few pencil slips there, in whose favour though!

@Havalona oh dear they even look the same!!! Glasses and facial hair. That's mad they have the same exact spelling. I googled Eoin O'Broin social democrats and it was the other guy who kept popping up. I had to specifically click into a link to find the SD one. That is definitely going to confuse people.

Since SF O'Broin is higher on the paper than the SocDem fella, I'd hazard a guess that Harry Potter (SF sorry!) will benefit from any confusion. 😉

I thought the booth where you mark the ballot paper at my polling station wasn't very private.
Whatever way it was set up those sitting down crossing off voters names as they got their ballot slips had a great view, if they wanted, to observe how people were voting.
I eventually found a less open booth.
Job done
Now for the count.

I thought that too about the booths, and did a bit of a merry dance until I found one with my back to the wall IYSWIM! I got some looks alright with the trailing ballot paper in my hand whilst doing the dance.

Now for the results. And feck it, my super duper hearing aid that works on bluetooth with my phone has just died and I'm in bits now. Won't be able to hear the stuff on the radio (de wireless ha ha!). So I'll have to plonk myself in front of the telly all day and watch the subtitles. Not ideal boo hoo.

Well done everyone getting out to vote. I felt the same with the privacy issue at the booths.

Our booths were a bit small and flimsy too - they must be standard issue so that our totalitarian overlords can surveil us. That's a joke. I think. I also made sure to punch out a few chads that were hanging, just in case.

The booths in the last local election and this general election did not give any privacy whatever way they were constructed.

Hopefully someone will talk to Joe bring this issue up on Liveline on Monday.

I see Holly Cairns gave birth to a baby girl this morning. I'm thinking that's a first in Irish politics - a party leader giving birth on election day.

I was asked to participate in the exit poll as I left the polling station. I was ridiculously excited about it! Results out at 10, they are usually pretty accurate.

Excited to see the results of the poll.

Amazing day of birth. And I'm hoping they do the best they can.

Why am I not even surprised https://www.limerickpost.ie/2024/11/29/ballot-faux-pas-could-scupper-election-result-in-limerick-city-constituency/

Sinn Féin and Fine Gael are almost level on 21.1% and 21%, with Fianna Fáil on 19.5%, according to the RTÉ, Irish Times, TG4, Trinity College Dublin Exit Poll was carried out by Ipsos B&A. The margin of error is 1.4%.

I assumed independents would have a much higher FPV. Surprised the Greens got 4%

So, if the majority of the vote is shared three ways after the count, (as per exit poll) can someone explain what happens please?

Would it be a three way pact or have FF and FG said at any point they would refuse to with SF?

Ok, I've read they wont. So FF and FG pact together as before.
Will SF having this much of a share mean a different impact or will things remain samey samey?

I think it is going as predicted. FF/FG and either SD's or Labour as 3rd party. Probably Labour. No real difference between the 2 main parties and Labour will go the way of the Greens in 5 years time. A pretty cosy cartel for FF/FG.
The problem for SF is that the majority of people don't trust them and FF/FG are the least worst option. I am not happy with FF/FG but I can't see myself ever voting for SF.

If this is accurate then SF will be the largest party in two consecutive elections. And probably be locked out again. Especially as the civil war parties transfer to each other nowadays .

FG as precedent of going in with Independents in 2016 and it was common enough during 80's to have a few independents to support government.

Tony Gregory is an obvious one for me with a deal with Charlie Haughey.

And I think FF had a couple of Independents in recent enough times as well, or could be dreaming that.