Should I vote or not?

[AndyBCM]

This Thursday is the Irish presidential election is on. However I just realized that on the same day I'm going to watch the TV show The Voice being recorded and in the evening I'm going to a book signing/reading from my favorite author Cassandra Clare. So the reason why there is a dilemma is because I live in Dublin to go to college but I still travel home to Roscommon on weekends, holidays etc. Therefore I'm also registered to vote in my home town. That would mean traveling 3 and a half hours on a bus to vote and I had no problem with that at all until I realized yesterday that my plans clashed.

Okay to help explain the dilemma more here's a type of pros and cons list.

Reasons why I should vote:

-It's important to me
-There is a particular candidate I want to vote for
-It is one of my pet peeves; people not exercising their vote.
-It's the second major election/ thing I had to vote for since I was 18 so the novelty is still there lol
-There is also two referendums to be voted on
-And for god's sake it's voting! it's my right and responsibility to do that.

Okay so reasons why I shouldn't:

-Missing The Voice recording and Cassandra Clare (A rare opportunity)
-All the traveling (Cost, time, resulting exhaustion)
-It might result in missing college classes
-If I travel down the night before to vote in the morning and then traveled back to Dublin straight away. I would miss my LGBT/Trans support groups as well as missing hanging out with my friends.

So any ideas on what I should do?

[Catherine Sarah]

Hi Andy,

Does you voting system allow for absentee voting? i.e. Voting in a reign not  your normal residence.
And what about pre polling. Are your electoral offices opened the week before the voting day to cater for those who are otherwise indisposed on the day? Last but not least, what about postal votes.

Give your electoral office a call and see what they can do for you. Particularly as you are an out-of-towner.

Hope this helps
Be safe, well and happy
Lotsa luv
Catherine

[pixiegirl]

Hmm, voting is usually important. In this case less so though - it's a virtually pointless election and the referendums are probably going to pass without anyone understanding what they really mean, so..... still up to you

And in answer to Catherine 1) no 2) no such thing 3) have to apply about a month in advance at least if you're entitled to it

[Catherine Sarah]

Thanks Pixiegirl,

For your info. WOW!!!  Your nation is in SERIOUS need of electoral reform. Otherwise the 'Land of Oz' has gone the next level up from 'Milk & Honey'.

In all 3 levels of government here (Local, State, Federal) I can waltz into an electoral office, a week in advance of the polling day, and without the slightest hint of an excuse and the ease of polling day itself (probably even easier due to the lack of a crowd), cast my vote. Done and dusted, ticked the box, move on, next please.

In fact, my daughter who is in the UK till 2013, did her voting 'on-line'. Didn't even have to go to Australia House.

I believe it's this reform that lead to our last 'hung' parliament. Which in itself is good value for all concerned. Never under estimate the power of the electorate. In our last Federal, the Gov. needed a 6% swing against them to lose. Under the circumstances, the pundits thought that was a hard number to come up with, thus they thought it would be a 'comfortable' win for them. Within 2 hours of polls closing in the east (the west closes 3 hours later) there was a SUBSTANTIAL move against the Gov (mainly lead by Qld - Mr. Rudds constituents) and an hour later, a hung parliament was declared.

Lesson to be learnt. Under any circumstance. VOTE. It just maybe your single vote that changes history.

Really hope it goes well for your country. You need it desperately.

Be safe, well and happy
Lotsa luv
Catherine