No Thursday Voting

Click here to sign the petition!!

Simon and I feel quite strongly about the Thursday voting idea, so strongly we have set out a petition demanding weekend voting for the 2007 General Election. Voting on Thursday is likely to disenfranchise commuters and students, a weekend poll will give the maximum number of citizens the chance to vote. A right to vote is worthless if you cannot exercise it.

Check out the petition page at irishelection.com/weekendvote/ and the petition itself here;

“To: Irish Government
We believe in democracy and that everyone should have the right to vote. By having a polling on a Thursday it is clear that the intent of the government to limit the ability of many who are away from their homes to vote in this election and exercise that right such as commuters not getting back to their homes till late at night and students living away from their constituencies. We believe that this is wrong and that all elections must be at the very least late opening on Fridays and include a Saturday or Sunday vote. This will allow everyone to have their say and exercise their right to vote.”

Update: Sinn Fein support the idea of Saturday elections. Ciaran Cuffe has signed the petition and issued a press release explicitly backing the petition (cheers Ciaran!!)

“We support the petition initiated by Simon Tuohy and Cian O’Flaherty on the political blog IrishElection.com calling for a weekend or a Friday Polling Day, and urge those who feel strongly about the issue to sign their online petition and contact their local TDs on the issue.”