End Voter Fraud In Ireland
Ensure Irish Sovereignty: Prevent Voter Fraud
Ensure Irish Sovereignty: Prevent Voter Fraud
IN BRIEF: On referendum day, a large number of expatriates, with no intention of returning to live in Ireland, could be “shipped in” to vote in favour of abortion, and having voted, “shipped out” again. This is a clear manipulation of the democratic process in Ireland and we must do everything we can to end it.
In Ireland, a person remains entitled to vote if he is absent from the country for up to eighteen months and has the intention of resuming residence within that period.
While this is a reasonable provision it can give rise to voter irregularity and even voter fraud by persons absent for longer periods or who have no intention of resuming residence in Ireland.
It is possible that a referendum could be swayed by people who are not entitled to vote. If that were to happen the right of people in Ireland to determine their own direction and laws, could be drastically undermined.
For example, in the 2015 Referendum on same-sex “marriage”, groups on the "Yes" side actively canvassed the expatriate vote. Such campaigns gained traction with the help of extensive media coverage. Social media reported emigrants returning to vote from the United Kingdom, Canada and elsewhere. No doubt this included some who were genuinely entitled to cast a vote; they were absent less than eighteen months and intended to resume residence within that period - but the potential for voter fraud is all too evident. Eligibility controls need to be significantly enhanced.
With a likely referendum on the 8th Amendment in the not too distant future, it is important that the potential for voter fraud is eliminated. Those who wish to introduce abortion into Ireland, along with all the misery and problems it causes, could potentially abuse the current system by targeting the expatriate vote. We could see a flood of long absent citizens visit our shores to vote against the 8th Amendment and speedily return overseas.
This is a matter of the sovereignty of the people in Ireland. The law recognises this by only allowing Irish citizens who are resident, or else who are within the terms of absence acceptable under the law, to vote in a referendum.
Please sign this petition to the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government asking him to undertake immediate steps to enhance controls around this very important area.
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Regarding Voter Control for Expatriates
For the attention of Mr. Eoghan Murphy, Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government,
cc: Mr. Peter Tyndall, Ombudsman
Dear Mr. Murphy,
I write to you in regard to the issue of voter control in the case of expatriate voting.
As you’ll be aware, in Ireland, under the Electoral Act 1992, a person remains entitled to vote if they are absent from the country for up to eighteen months and have the intention of resuming residence within that period. While this is a reasonable provision it can give rise to voter irregularity by persons absent for longer periods or who have no intention of resuming residence within eighteen months.
A person’s name may remain on the Register of Electors for a considerable time after relinquishing residence. Local Authorities face a considerable challenge in keeping pace with the movement of voters. Those leaving the country rarely request deletion of their names from the Register and routine verification enquiries by Councils cannot capture details of all absences in a timely manner. While having one’s name on the register does not legally entitle a person to vote if they are otherwise disqualified, it does make determination of eligibility much more difficult in cases of those living outside of Ireland for some time.
The situation is open to widespread irregularity and even erosion of Irish sovereignty unless adequate controls are applied.
I believe that the Electoral Act 1992 already contains a potential remedy. Section 11 (3) (b) of the Act states that “a written statement by a person that he intends to resume residence within eighteen months after giving it up shall, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, be accepted as a correct statement.”
1. This written statement must be made mandatory in every case where a person returns to vote after having been absent more than three months.
2. Every Polling Station must also display a notice drawing attention to the requirements of residence (and the exemption allowed by the Act) and the penalties for voter fraud under this regulation.
3. Any incoming Referendum Commission must undertake a publicity campaign to explain the legal requirements around expatriate voting.
These measures are necessary to ensure that questions which are the subject of a referendum or the election of public representatives are decided only by those entitled to vote and compliant with electoral law.
This is a matter of the sovereignty of the Irish citizenry: we must not tolerate electoral fraud and I ask you to take these simple measures to eliminate it so far as possible.
Regarding Voter Control for Expatriates
For the attention of Mr. Eoghan Murphy, Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government,
cc: Mr. Peter Tyndall, Ombudsman
Dear Mr. Murphy,
I write to you in regard to the issue of voter control in the case of expatriate voting.
As you’ll be aware, in Ireland, under the Electoral Act 1992, a person remains entitled to vote if they are absent from the country for up to eighteen months and have the intention of resuming residence within that period. While this is a reasonable provision it can give rise to voter irregularity by persons absent for longer periods or who have no intention of resuming residence within eighteen months.
A person’s name may remain on the Register of Electors for a considerable time after relinquishing residence. Local Authorities face a considerable challenge in keeping pace with the movement of voters. Those leaving the country rarely request deletion of their names from the Register and routine verification enquiries by Councils cannot capture details of all absences in a timely manner. While having one’s name on the register does not legally entitle a person to vote if they are otherwise disqualified, it does make determination of eligibility much more difficult in cases of those living outside of Ireland for some time.
The situation is open to widespread irregularity and even erosion of Irish sovereignty unless adequate controls are applied.
I believe that the Electoral Act 1992 already contains a potential remedy. Section 11 (3) (b) of the Act states that “a written statement by a person that he intends to resume residence within eighteen months after giving it up shall, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, be accepted as a correct statement.”
1. This written statement must be made mandatory in every case where a person returns to vote after having been absent more than three months.
2. Every Polling Station must also display a notice drawing attention to the requirements of residence (and the exemption allowed by the Act) and the penalties for voter fraud under this regulation.
3. Any incoming Referendum Commission must undertake a publicity campaign to explain the legal requirements around expatriate voting.
These measures are necessary to ensure that questions which are the subject of a referendum or the election of public representatives are decided only by those entitled to vote and compliant with electoral law.
This is a matter of the sovereignty of the Irish citizenry: we must not tolerate electoral fraud and I ask you to take these simple measures to eliminate it so far as possible.
