Max McGuinness, writing for the Dubliner, is also giving out about his inability to vote, and he’s back in Ireland. He spent the last six months in Engurland, so he is ineligible, and rightly says that it is ‘frustrating and ridiculous’.

I’ve rattled on about it here already.  How about some movement on this before the 2009 European Parliament elections?

That’s what this election is coming down to – and it’s refreshing. People are getting picky about exactly what’s being promised for once in Irish politics.

Often, my exasperation as a journalist in Dublin was the stream of tit-for-tat bullshit and figure-churning offered by politicians in lieu of real politicking. Skewed figures and blatant lies are emitted from press offices on a day-to-day basis while the Dail is in session, with press releases issued like shrapnel. Much of the dross doesn’t hit flesh, but at the moment, with time ticking away for all concerned, there are quite a few wounded bears wandering around out there, angry and dangerous.

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Home & Away could well be a regular feature here on Expad, comparing and contrasting aspects of life here in Australia with those back home in Ireland.

As the general elections loom in Ireland, disenfranchised democrats like myself face returning to a changed political landscape that we have had no opportunity to chisel away at ourselves. Irish people abroad cannot vote in Irish elections, unlike our Australia brethren.

The arrangements are in place for Australians overseas at election time to vote if they so wish. The FAQ is here. It all seems so easy – so why has the Irish Government not followed suit?

As it stands, all that’s open to Irish voters in Australia (other than those serving in the diplomatic corps, is the Irish Echo’s newspaper poll (rollover).

Sifting through other Australian electoral policy, we find that in Australia voting is mandatory, and if you’re so much as outside your own constituency, you are expected to make arrangements to get your stamp on a ballot. It’s made relatively easy to do, and failure to vote or explain your absence results in a $20 fine, or worse:

If, within 21 days, the apparent non-voter fails to reply, cannot provide a valid and sufficient reason or declines to pay the penalty, then prosecution proceedings may be instigated. If the matter is dealt with in court and the person is found guilty, he or she may be fined up to $50 plus court costs.

Seems like a better way to encourage the youth to vote than the derisory and insulting Rock the Vote campaign that is currently clogging inboxes, and angering the youth it is hoping to fill with enthusiasm. Want the youth to go and vote? Make it difficult for them not to. Simple. Don’t insult their intelligence, and spare us all the uncomfortable-looking pseudo-celebs and childish videos. Even from the other side of the planet, it’s an embarrassment knowing it’s there.

Cue whines from Civil Liberties types who say you should be free at election time (a la Ronan Keating) to say nothing at all, if you so wish. Go and spoil your vote, if you feel there is no-one who represents you. But stand up and be counted, rather than shouting abuse from the shadows.