A voter can rank as many or as few candidates as they like or just vote for one candidate. Each candidate needs a minimum number of votes to be elected. This number is calculated according to the number of seats and votes cast and is called a quota.
The first preference votes for each candidate are added up and any candidate who has achieved this quota is elected. Votes that would have gone to the winner instead go to the second preference listed on those ballot papers. Even if a candidate exceeds the quota after the first count only a small proportion of the next preferences will be counted as part of a surplus. A small proportion of votes are spoiled in every election because the voter has not clearly indicated a preference.
This sometimes happens because a number 1 is given to more than one candidate. Often votes are spoiled on purpose with slogans written on the ballot paper by disgruntled voters. It was imposed on this country as part of the Home Rule Act in and later incorporated in the Anglo-Irish Treaty of with the objective of protecting the unionist minority and ensuring they had representation in an Irish parliament.
See a sample. Subscribe Now. Leaders meeting in Glasgow are cautiously optimistic targets can be met, or almost met. Please update your payment details to keep enjoying your Irish Times subscription. Stephen Collins. Should you vote all the way down the ballot paper? So how does the system work? More from The Irish Times People. Home energy upgrades are now more important than ever. The Dublin start-up making the future better with an appreciation for innovation.
Commenting on The Irish Times has changed. To comment you must now be an Irish Times subscriber. The account details entered are not currently associated with an Irish Times subscription. Please subscribe to sign in to comment. You should receive instructions for resetting your password. When you have reset your password, you can Sign In. Please choose a screen name. This name will appear beside any comments you post.
Your screen name should follow the standards set out in our community standards. Screen Name Selection. Only letters, numbers, periods and hyphens are allowed in screen names.
Please enter your email address so we can send you a link to reset your password. Your Comments. This is done by numbering the candidates in order of preference 1,2,3,4,5 and so on instead of just putting an 'X' against one of them.
At elections to the Westminister Parliament the traditional first-past-the-post system is used. This means you simply put an 'X' against the candidate you support. You can vote in Northern Ireland elections if you are on the electoral register and are aged 18 or over on polling day. You can vote in person, at a polling station, by post or by proxy. If you have a disability, you should have access to vote at local and general elections regardless of whether you choose to vote at a polling station or in another way, for example by post.
Find out more about accessible voting for people with disabilities. You can vote at a local polling station, usually a nearby school or hall. You'll get a poll card before the election, telling you where and when to vote. You do not need a poll card to vote, it is for information purposes only. When voting at a polling station in Northern Ireland you are required to present acceptable photographic identification.
The identity document does not need to be current. The poll card will tell you the types of photographic identification that will be accepted or you can check the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland EONI website. One of the types of acceptable photographic identification is an Electoral Identity Card. It is the same size as a credit card and you can apply for a free Electoral Identity Card from your local Area Electoral Office.
When you go to vote, the staff will check your name and address and photographic ID and give you a ballot paper. Read the ballot paper carefully. It will list the parties and candidates you can vote for, and tell you how to cast your vote.
The voting takes place in a screened booth. When you've marked your vote, fold the ballot paper in half and put it in the ballot box. Do not write anything else on the ballot paper or your vote may not count. If you're not sure what to do, ask the staff to help you. If you have a valid reason you can apply to vote by post or by proxy. You must explain why it is unreasonable to expect you to go to your allotted polling station, for example because you will be on holiday or because you are ill.
The form must be returned no later than 14 working days before the date of the election. If you are voting by post a ballot paper will be sent to you about 10 days before the election.
Mark the ballot paper and make sure that it is returned to the Area Electoral Office by If you are voting by proxy, this means that the person you have asked to vote on your behalf will go to the polling station to place your vote. You do not have to do anything. You can also find the latest election coverage on news websites, radio and social media.
Organisations and anyone over the age of 16 can apply to become an election observer. This means you can go along to polling stations, be at the issue and receipt of postal ballot papers, and at the counting of votes. It is an important way to make sure that election arrangements meet internationally-accepted standards.
The Chief Electoral Officer administers elections and compiles the electoral register in Northern Ireland.
0コメント