Sinn Féin’s Tipperary General Election candidate Cllr. Séamie Morris has released a video to help new voters understand what they’ll do on Friday 26th.
Cllr Morris said: “The counting of votes is complicated, but casting your vote is not. The task for the new voter is quite simple – once they go out to vote! The real voice for change is You.”
“An information card was sent to every registered voter. That states where you’ll be voting. The most important bit of information on that is whereyou’ll vote. In the polling station, you’ll find your polling table according the to booth number on the card, but you can ask at any table when you get there if you’re unsure.”
“The staff are quite used to helping people out, so you won’t be the only person to ask.”
“When you find the right table, you might be asked for ID. The information card is just to get you to the polling station, so you should have one of: passport, driving licence, employee or student card with a photograph. If you don’t have any of those, a Credit Union or bank book with your address on it will do. A Public Services card is also OK. Don’t be offended if you are asked for ID, as a percentage of people must be asked.”
“After you get the ballot paper, make sure the ballot has been stamped or punched, and go to the nearest booth, where there will be pencils to mark the ballot. In the privacy of the booth you can make your choices.”
“There are 13 candidates on the Tipperary ballot paper. You should start by writing ‘1’ in the box to the right of your preferred candidate. You can then write ‘2’ in the box of your second choice, ‘3’ for your third choice etc.”
“You don’t need to go all the way down to 13, and most people don’t, because they don’t want to give any preference to their least favourite candidate. This year, a huge number of people won’t be giving any preference to any of the three parties that wrecked our country. So just start at 1 and keep going through the numbers until you find the first of the candidates you just do not want to see elected, and then stop.”
“Don’t write anything else on the ballot paper, because doing that will spoil your ballot and it won’t be counted.”
“If you do make a mistake, and many people do, bring the folded ballot paper back to the table and ask for a new one. When you get the new one, return to the booth and try again.”
“When you’re finished, fold the ballot paper and bring it back to the ballot box which is in front or beside the polling table. Do a quick check again to be sure the ballot has been stamped or punched. Put the paper in the ballot box. That’s it, now you’re a citizen!”
“Obviously, I’d like you to give me your number 1 preference. I want to help build a New Republic, where housing and water are rights, and emigration isn’t the main means of keeping unemployment numbers low. But the real voice for change is You.”