
Full Voting Rights for the Irish abroad


Over three million Irish citizens living and working abroad are unable to vote and about 1 million of these were born and lived for most of their lives in Ireland. Ireland is currently experiencing another wave of emigration but with the exception of diplomats, the Defence Forces and an Garda Síochána, the current system prevents Irish citizens abroad from voting.
We believe there is a richness to be gained by including the voices of Ireland's emigrants in shaping our country's future. Constitutional reform will be needed to implement voting rights for Irish emigrants or the Irish holidaying abroad. We will need the legislation to activate our constitutional right to vote as Irish citizens, whether we are in the UK, US or further afield.
Over 115 nations, including 36 European countries and countries with high rates of emigration, have established succesful systems which allow their emigrants to vote. Ireland is one of just a handful of developed nations that does not provide expatriate citizens living abroad with the ability to vote.
This petition calls on the Irish government to: Enact legislation enabling Irish citizens living or holidaying abroad to vote in ALL elections and referenda.
If you are an Irish citizen, please sign this petition and share it with your friends and family to ensure that all our voices are counted. Leave a comment and let us hear your opinion on this issue.
For more information, please check the links at the side of the page.
Links
http://www.globalirish.ie/issues/emigrant-voting/
Fintan O'Toole's article in the Irish Times March 2010
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2010/0323/1224266873401.html
BUNREACHT NA hÉIREANN (Constitution of Ireland)
http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/attached_files/Pdf%20files/Constitution%20of%20Ireland.pdf
Article in Irish Post on overseas vote for Irish Citizens
http://www.irishpost.ie/tabId/550/itemId/8258/The-overseas-vote-A-possibility-or-pipe-dream.aspx
Citizens' Information on Elections and Voting
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/government-in-ireland/elections-and-referenda
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