Who should you vote for in... London?

I will be blogging soon about the London Mayoral and Assembly Elections as I am always watching BBC and reading certain blogs that are always on about! But before I do I found this on Ian Dale's Diary today, its an excllent tool to see who you should vote for in the Mayoral Elections.

My Results are as follows:

Alan Craig (Christian Peoples Alliance / Christian Party)
Matt O'Connor (English Democrats)
Boris Johnson (Conservatives)
Richard Barnbrook (BNP)
Winston Mckenzie
Siân Berry (Green Party)
Gerrard Batten (UKIP)
Brian Paddick (Liberal Democrats)
Lindsey German (Left List)
Ken Livingstone (Labour)

Good to see Red Ken at the end, but I never thought I'd be supporting the Christian Party! :D

In the London Assembly race I came out with the following

Abolish the Congestion Charge
The Christian Choice
One London (Leader Damian Hockney)
Conservative Party
English Democrats
Green Party
British National Party
Liberal Democrats
Unity for Peace and Socialism
UK Independence Party
Left List
Respect (George Galloway)
The Labour Party

Its strange to see Abolish the Congestion Charge at the top as I think the congestion charge should stay. Even when I changed my weighting on it, they stayed number one.... Strange one...

Have a go yourself! Vote Match

Ode to my favourites from last night

Andorra


Denmark


Switzerland


Belgium


Austria


Norway

Work Thursday, Vote Saturday!

Well FG have jumped on the band wagon here, but I know we in YFG have been calling for Weekend voting for quite awhile, I know it was in the 'YOUR FUTURE COUNTS, STAND UP AND BE COUNTED' campaign we did earlier this year to get people, especially young people registered to vote.

Sign The Petition

Irish Blog Awards Voting closes at 5pm (Irish Time)

Well the time for voting nears the end, and if you plan on voting get yourself over to the voting page and vote! of course if you dont know who to vote for in the Best News/Current Affairs Blog, please consder voting for me!! Im listed under Stephen Spillane, for some reason people dont refer to this site as My Opinion at all :(

Update:All those who vote in the blog awards will be entered into a draw for a copy of Vista Home Premium. There’s 5 to give away. That’s a final incentive to have people vote for you. Best of luck to everyone. Voting closes at 5pm today. One vote per person.

ATTN: UCC Graduates! Vote Richard Hammond for Governing Board

Richard is hard working and has huge experience in Poltics.

For more information contact spiller2@gmail.com for his leaflet.


At a recent UCC YFG meeting Richard was endorsed by unanimous vote.

Continued: What will you ask the politicians that knock on your door?

Continued: What will you ask the politicians that knock on your door?

Here are more responses

Frank O'Regan, Cork:

1. Why are the government actively trying to create unemployment in the Fermoy region with risk equalisation, It is anti competitive

2. What are your plans for the radical overhall of the Health Servie to get it working properly, there are too many administration jobs and not enough doctors and nurses

3. The rights of the victim needs to be reasserted, a criminal should not have any rights and it should be remembers that they are in prison for commiting a crime and prison should refelct this. Enforcement and longer minimum terms are required.

4. There needs to be a defined and sustained investment in our roads infastructure.

5. There needs to be an overhall of the motor tax system and motor tax should be charged on the Petrol so the more you drive the more you pay, not on the size of your engine.

Laura O'Connor, Cork:

1. What is their policy on bulling in schools? And do they think the department of education guidelines are sufficient to cope with the increasing level of bullying in Ireland today?

2. Health system-There needs to be more accountability from consultants, doctors and nurses for the care, diagnosis etc of their patients. What reforms would your party make?

3. Nursing homes-the cost. How would they bring it down?

4. Boy racers, drink driving etc. Its becoming a ridiculous problem in Ireland, harsher measures need to be enforced. What would you prop to do?

Continued: What will you ask the politicians that knock on your door?

Continued: What will you ask the politicians that knock on your door?

Bryan Lynch, Cork:

Will your party work to repeal the racist Irish Nationality Law which came into effect on January 1st 2005?

Will your party reverse the general trend of supporting sickeningly populist policies on immigration?

Will your party provide more funding for third level education?

Will your party consider developing a service to provide free health care similar to that of the British NHS?

Will your party take the lead in purging the following from our society: racists, homophobes, Euro-skeptics and Fenians, in order to make The Republic of Ireland a much nicer place to live?

What will you ask the politicians that knock on your door?

I asked a few friends to compile a short list and this what i got so far! (mine is at the end). I will post up others as soon as i get them

Seamas De Faoite, Dublin:

1. Will you listen to young people
2. Will you get The Americans out of shannon
3. Will you look-after local schools
4. Will you work with other politicians
5. Will you work hard to defeat anti-social behaviour

Samuel Bowman, Cork:

1) Would you be supportive of the American use of Shannon airport and the broader war on terror (I will be looking for a yes, and if any candidate impressed me with a huge support for America I'd vote for them regardless of any other factors)
2) Would you cut taxes, and if so, which ones? (I will be looking for a pledge to reduce corporation tax and the upper rate of income tax as well as the abolition of stamp duty and capital gains tax)
3) Would you support the introduction of ASBOs? (I'll want a yes here, the tougher the better except on drugs issues)
4) Would you ever be prepared to go into government with Sinn Féin? (if yes, I'll slam the door in their face)
5) Would you support the introduction of civil partnerships for homosexuals with equal parenting and adoption rights for homosexual couples? (I will want a yes here, particularly on the parenting issue)

Stephen Spillane, me!!!, Cork:

1. What will you do to tackle the huge problem with mental health services, particularly with the issue of youth suicide?
2. Will you work ensure that Cork Airport is kept competive by making sure it is dept free?
3. What are tyour piorities if you are elected?
4. What transport intiatives do you support for Cork?
5. Do you think Cork as been neglected by the current Government and how will you address this?

Keep an eye for more to come!

USI CALLS FOR SATURDAY VOTING TO COMBAT ‘TWO CONSTITUENCY’ PROBLEM

The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has warned that only Saturday voting can prevent thousands of young people from being denied the right to vote.

Elections held Monday-to-Friday disenfranchise students who reside in two constituencies. Long distance travel is impossible for full-time students during the week, USI said.

At least half of all full-time students reside in two constituencies – a college residence and their permanent family home. For one in three students, the distance separating college from their permanent home exceeds 80 kilometres.[1]

Based on HEA figures, Saturday polling would allow up to 90,000 full-time students the chance to travel to the constituency where they are registered to vote.

USI President Colm Hamrogue said: “Already this month, we have seen signs that marginalised electors will be hit by a variety of obstacles to voting in the next election.

“If the Government is serious about maximising voter turnout – particularly among young people – then it must commit to holding the next general election on a Saturday.

“Half of all full-time students divide their year between two voting constituencies: their college address and their permanent address. At the moment, students can only guess which of their constituencies they should register to vote in since nobody knows the exact date when the election will fall.”

USI Education Officer Bernadette Farrell said: “Keeping polls open until late in the evening is vital – but late opening still assumes that all voters have their evening free to vote.

“Weekday polling discriminates not only against students. Thousands of employees and managers are also extremely busy during the business week, and there are many reasons why they would seize the chance to vote on Saturday.

“USI urges all TDs from all political parties to insist on this vital pro-democracy reform.”

Don't vote? Then you can't complain!

Well this is definatly my philosophy on complaining about teh government! Make sure your registered!!!

How do I register to vote in the next General Election?

The Register of Electors is being updated from November 1st
2006 until
November 25th 2006. The register is currently in a draft
format,
which means that names are continuously being added and
deleted. Even
though you may have voted in previous elections or
referenda, you
still need to check that you are registered to vote.

You will be able to register to vote on campus from 14th -
16th of November in
the Students Union office, Boole, Main and the Student
Centre.

You do not need to bring proof of address or proof of
identity.

Am I eligible to vote?

Age

» If you are over 18 now, you can register to vote.

» If you will be over 18 by February 15th 2007, you can
register to vote.

Nationality

» Irish citizens may vote at every election and
referendum;

» British citizens may vote at Dáil, European and local
elections;

» EU citizens (other than British citizens) may vote at
European
and local elections;

» Non-EU citizens may vote at local elections.

How do I check the Register of Electors?

You can check if you are included on the Register of
Electors by in
post offices, public libraries, Garda stations, courthouses
and county
and city councils or you can check it online at


checktheregister.ie

Changes, such as a change of address or
adding your name, can be made to register until November
25th 2006.

Can I register after November 25th 2006?

After November 25th 2006, you will not be able to enter your
name on
the Register of Electors. If you are unable to register your
name
prior to November 25th 2006, you can apply for inclusion on
the
Supplement to the Electoral Register. The Supplement to the
Electoral
Register will allow you to vote at any election or
referendum held
during that particular year. You can apply for inclusion on
the
Supplemental Register at least 13 working days before
polling day.

Postal Voting
Voters are normally required to vote in person at an
official voting
centre. However you may be eligible to vote by post if:

» You are studying full time at an educational institution
away
from your home address where you are registered.

» You cannot get to a polling station because of a
physical
illness or disability.

You cannot register to vote by post after November 25th
2006. If you
register to vote by post, you may vote by post only. You
cannot vote
in a polling station.

Voters with Disabilities
There are special arrangements to assist electors with
certain
disabilities to exercise their voting rights. Some of these
arrangements include:

» Voting at an alternative polling station if a person's
local
station is inaccessible;

» Postal voting by electors living at home who cannot go
to the
polling station due to a physical disability or illness;

» Special voting facilities provided in hospitals, nursing
homes
or similar institutions for residents who cannot go to the
polling
station due to a physical disability or illness;

» Assistance in voting at the polling station by a
companion or
by the presiding officer for people with a visual
impairment, physical
disability or literacy difficulty;

» The use of photographs and party political emblems on
ballot
papers to assist visually impaired people and people with
literacy
difficulties;

» The display of a large print copy of the ballot paper in
polling stations to further assist visually impaired people
and people
with literacy difficulties.

For more info click here:

http://www.environ.ie/DOEI/DOEIPol.nsf/wvNavView/wwdElections?OpenDocument&Lang=en

All material (c) Union of Students in Ireland 2006.
http://www.usi.ie

Throughout all this week starting Tuesday 14th Novembe the UCC Politics Society in conjunction with the SU and USI will be launching the “UCC 2 Vote in 2007” Campaign which seeks to get the Students of UCC registered for the general election next
spring.

Please take the time to register your vote and realise that
every vote counts.

“537 Votes in Florida changed History”

“The Greatest disease of my generation is Apathy”- Kurt
Cobain.

YFG to Launch Voter Registration Campaign in Cork

Tomorrow (Thursday) Young Fine Gael will launch its Voter Registration Campaign in Cork at 1pm on Patrick's Quay. All are welcome.

See http://yfg.ie/register for more details on the campaign

KENNY TO LAUNCH YFG VOTER REGISTRATION CAMPAIGN

Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny TD will today (Wednesday) launch a Young Fine Gael (YFG) campaign to encourage youth voter registration. The campaign will be launched at 12.00 noon at the Merrion Street entrance to Leinster House.

Speaking ahead of the launch, YFG President, Elizabeth Munnelly, said, “It’s not apathy, but bureaucracy, that stops many young people from voting. 46% of 18-19 year olds, 43% of students and 30% of 20-24 year olds did not vote in the 2002 General Election because they were not registered.”

” YFG will be making the point to our peers that if they do not vote they are less likely to have their views taken into account in the Country’s decision making processes.”

“At the last election, just over 40% of young people aged 18-25 voted. Only 6 members of the Dáil elected in 2002 were under 30 (five of those being Fine Gael TDs).”

“YFG are calling for automatic voter registration at 18, through use of the RSI system and election day registration for students and young people living away from home.”

YFG will be campaigning and using ad mobiles at concerts and festivals, such as ‘Electric Picnic’ and ‘Hi:Fi’, throughout the country over the summer and autumn with the aim of increasing the number of young people voting in the next General Election.

Download the YFG policy document on Youth participation at http://www.yfg.ie/downloads/Youthparticipation.doc.

Montenegro, newest state in Europe!

Montenegrin's at the weekend voted to end the last remnants of the former Yugoslavia, with the decission to breaks away from the State Union of Serbia and Montengro. State-certified results indicated on May 22 that, with a turnout of 86.3%, 55.4% of voters had elected to become independent.

The EU now is compelled to recognise the new state as it meets the requirments set by the EU.

Legal procedure
Before the referendum:
According to the Montenegrin Constitution, state status cannot be changed without a referendum and the President of the state proposes a referendum to the Parliament. The referendum bill was introduced by the president of Montenegro, Filip Vujanović, and it was unanimously passed by the Montenegrin Assembly on March 2, 2006.

After the referendum:
The Referendum Bill obliges the Assembly which introduced the referendum to respect its outcome. It has to declare the official results within 15 days, and act upon them within 60 days.

Changes to the Montenegrin Constitution which involve changes of the state status require dissolving the Assembly when the bill is passed, and convocation of the new one within 90 days. The new Assembly has to adopt, with two thirds majority, such changes to the Constitution, or accept a new document.

The newly-independent nation of Serbia, which will be the successor state to the state union of Serbia and Montenegro, while favouring the status quo and a loose Yugoslav Federation, has stated publicly that it would respect the outcome of the election and not interfere with Montenegrin sovereignty.

Referendum question

Želite li da Republika Crna Gora bude nezavisna država sa punim međunarodno-pravnim subjektivitetom (as it appeared on the ballot)
Do you want the Republic of Montenegro to be an independent state with a full international and legal personality (as translated by OSCE)

Electoral Systems used Today

There are six different types of electoral systems used in today's democracies. They are split into two broad categories; majoritarian and proportional systems.

Majoritarian Systems
First Past the Post (Single Member Plurality)
Second Ballot
Alternative Vote/Supplementary Vote

Proportional Systems
Alternative Member System
Proportional representation Single transferable Vote
Party List

First Past the Post (FPTP) - Majoritarian
This system is used in the United Kingdom, Canada, USA and India.

The country is split into constituencies of equal sizes. Each constituency has one representative in the assembly creating a strong link between the area and it's representative. Strong, effective, stable single-party government are normally formed. Small extremist parties rarely win seats under this system. To get elected a candidate just needs to get the majority of the votes, this leads to a lot of wasted votes as the person elected might only get 26% of the vote.

Second Ballot - Majoritarian
This is mainly used in France and the Ukraine.

There are single member constituencies with single-choice voting. After the first ballot if no candidate has an overall majority, a second run-off ballot is held between the two leading candidates. Candidates are forced to have a broad appeal to get elected.

Alternative Vote (AV); Supplementary Vote (SV) - Majoritarian
Used in Australia (AV) and in the United Kingdom (London Mayor (SV)).

There are single member constituencies and electors use preferential voting. . The winning candidate must have 50% of the vote. This system is fairer than the second ballot as it stops candidates from forming deals.

Additional Member System (AMS) - Proportional
Used in Germany, Italy, Russia, New Zealand, Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly.

A percentage of the seats are filled by the FPTP system. The rest of the seats are filled by a party list system. This allows a constituency to have its own representative from one party and vote for a another party to govern.

Proportional Representation: Single Transferable Vote (PRSTV) - Proportional
Used in the Republic of Ireland and in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

There are multi-member constituencies (up to five seats) in which parties can field as many candidates as there is seats. Candidates are elected when they reach a quota. Having several representatives means constituents can choose who to take there grievances to.

Party List System - Proportional
Used in Israel, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and various other European States.

The entire country is treated as one constituency. The voters vote for the party of their liking. The party list system is the most proportional system used as if a party gets 45% of the votes it gets 45% of the seats.