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Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris during a media briefing in 2020 Alamy Stock Photo

Garda Commissioner: GRA vote 'like a kick in the teeth' but says he will not resign

The justice minister said the decision to pursue a “personalised ballot” was “regrettable” and called for “talking and negotiating” to resolve the dispute.

LAST UPDATE | 13 Sep 2023

GARDA COMMISSIONER DREW Harris has described the landslide no confidence vote in his leadership by rank and file gardaí as a “kick in the teeth”. 

Drew Harris was speaking in Kildare this afternoon and called the result a “bitter blow”. 

Earlier this afternoon, the Garda Representative Association (GRA) announced that its members voted overwhelmingly to express no confidence in the commissioner, with 98.7% of the 85% member turnout voting ‘no’, a record return for the GRA. 

At the press conference announcing the result of the vote, GRA leadership cited a number of issues affecting their members, including staff retention, a “toxic” atmosphere, oversight processes, suspensions and rostered hours. 

Harris defended his post as Commissioner and denied that the gardaí were in a “crisis” .

“I am hugely disappointed – it feels like a real kick in the teeth.

“The thing about this is that I am employed to do a job – I am employed to protect the people of Ireland, I am employed to use our resources to maximise the protection for the people of Ireland and that means a change of roster. 

“The message today we are continuing the course that we are on and return to the agreed roster,” he said. 

When asked will he resign in response to the no confidence ballot result he said: “The answer is an emphatic no. That would be a completely illogical response to the situation that we face.”

The Commissioner said that he believed that the membership of the Garda Representative Association were confused about the question.

“Trust doesn’t come into it. It  is unclear what they were voting for, I think. I believe that they felt they were voting on the decision to go back to the original roster,” he added. 

Harris said that he will continue to offer a negotiation for a new roster. 

“There is a lot of good going on in the organisation and I feel the GRA are creating a distorted picture of what is happening in An Garda Síochána,” he added.  

Harris said that he does not believe that coming from Northern Ireland was forming part of the reason for the vote but added: “I cannot speak to the motivations of others”. 

The GRA had raised concerns around a claim of overbearing discipline issues that this forms part of the reasons why there is such discontent in the organisation.

In response Harris said: “We take a very measured approach to discipline”. 

Minister comments

Meanwhile Minister Helen McEntee speaking also in Kildare appealed to the GRA to return to negotiations. 

“I think this vote is regrettable, we are in the middle of industrial relations dispute, the GRA themselves have said this is around rosters and I have said consistently the only way to deal with the matter is for people to get around the table. 

“I believe this is a very personalised route that has been taken,” she said. 

McEntee said that she believed that the Commissioner’s position “is tenable” and that the Government as a whole has support for Harris’ position.

The Minister said she has no role in deciding on rostering and said it was only a matter for the Commissioner. 

Currently there is no full time appointed official managing Human Resources in An Garda Síochaána – the current manager is in an acting position.

McEntee denied that this had any role in the current industrial dispute. 

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141 Comments
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    Mute Stephen Mc Elligott
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    Feb 10th 2020, 12:44 AM

    Don’t be blaming it on the weather. People are just lazy and then they complain when things aren’t going great for them. You’ve no right to complain if you have not voted.

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    Mute Daniel Murray
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    Feb 10th 2020, 7:40 AM

    @Stephen Mc Elligott: that’s not true. If there is no party or candidates with whom you agree policy when why would you vote for someone you disagree with and don’t want to in government?

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    Mute Edward Natali
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    Feb 10th 2020, 8:08 AM

    @Daniel Murray: you go to vote, put a box saying ‘none of the above candidates’ and tick it. They count spoilt votes too!

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    Mute Brendan Gordon
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    Feb 10th 2020, 12:28 PM

    @Stephen Mc Elligott: nothing at all to do with the thousands of registered voters who have been chased abroad to find work and affordable accommodation and the lack of notice for them to organise to be home to vote

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    Mute Perlum Sprite
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    Feb 10th 2020, 12:41 AM

    It may have been down marginally over all, but I’d reckon it was up for younger people and that’s something we should celebrate.

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    Mute Ross
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    Feb 10th 2020, 12:51 AM

    @Perlum Sprite: and hopefully it’s a trend that will continue with regards to future elections and so on! Your vote makes a difference.. Young, old everything in between.

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    Mute Sean
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    Feb 10th 2020, 12:54 AM

    They should enforce mandatory voting with small fines. Works well in Belgium.

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    Mute Mirabelle Stonegate
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    Feb 10th 2020, 2:07 AM

    @Sean: and if you’re out of the country or otherwise unable to get to your polling station? Happened to me once. My parents were in Spain, and because my polling station was still my home place, I had no way of getting there without them giving me a lift. Had to miss out on a vote.

    I’m from a village with no transport links, and I don’t drive myself.

    27
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    Mute Conall
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    Feb 10th 2020, 7:00 AM

    @Mirabelle Stonegate: I suppose you get a small fine – he wasn’t suggesting prison. Not entirely fair to a few people like yourself, but a benefit to society in general.

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    Mute Paul Whitehead
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    Feb 10th 2020, 7:13 AM

    @Mirabelle Stonegate: Taxi?

    4
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    Mute Valentine Healy-Rae-Nua
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    Feb 10th 2020, 7:31 AM

    @Mirabelle Stonegate: Taxi. A lift from a mate. Cycle. Phone a candidate and say you need a lift.

    But really, what remote village is this that doesn’t have it’s own polling station?

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    Mute Anto Harris
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    Feb 10th 2020, 7:43 AM

    @Sean: Could not disagree with you more. Mandatory voting is an invasion of a person’s civil liberties. People choose not to vote for a variety of reasons and making it compulsory is a step too far.

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    Mute Dermot Donnelly
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    Feb 10th 2020, 10:23 AM

    @Sean: you can do postal votes , enabe someone to vote on your behalf, vote at embassy, you can get an exemption or doctors note

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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Feb 10th 2020, 11:25 AM

    @Valentine Healy-Rae-Nua: taxi? In a village? In Ireland? Bahahaha! You’ve obviously never been in rural Ireland. Most towns don’t have taxis, never mind villages. And cycle? Most drivers drive in such a way that it’s deadly dangerous to cycle. As for villages without poling stations, my own village doesn’t have one. I can think of several more.

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    Mute Conall
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    Feb 10th 2020, 3:48 PM

    @Brian Ó Dálaigh: Ring a local politician for a lift

    2
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    Mute Seán Dillon
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    Feb 10th 2020, 12:53 AM

    Nearly 40% of the electorate decided not to vote, most couldn’t be bothered. They should keep their mouth shut on how the country is run until the next election.

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    Mute SC
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    Feb 10th 2020, 7:30 AM

    @Seán Dillon: I don’t vote and I’ll still complain. I might vote next time if shinners do a good job but I just can’t support any party that has actually been in power and was a bit iffy about SF, I live close to the border and it’s like a cult here.

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    Mute mcdb06
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    Feb 10th 2020, 12:05 PM

    @SC: Vote for an independent then.

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    Mute Mrs Doyle
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    Feb 10th 2020, 3:59 PM

    @Seán Dillon: they have no right to criticise government decisions if they don’t vote.

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    Mute tenlover
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    Feb 10th 2020, 12:49 AM

    To my fellow middle class, working professionals. Who are well off, kids in private school, 2/3 holidays a year. Is this the end? London calling

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    Mute Laughable
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    Feb 10th 2020, 12:52 AM

    @tenlover: what?

    61
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    Mute Perlum Sprite
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    Feb 10th 2020, 12:56 AM

    @tenlover: lots of people say SF will destroy the economy, and will be bad for business.

    FF are the ones who destroyed the economy, FG are the ones who step in to clean up the mess after them every 20 years, but then they allow business to rape and pillage.

    I’m self employed 25 years, since I was 17 or 18. I don’t fear SF in government. What can they do that’s worse than FF?

    Yeah, they may be clueless and inexperienced and have no hope of implementing their manifesto and a junior coalition party – but all I want is health and housing addressed. If they do that, I’ll be happy.

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    Mute tenlover
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    Feb 10th 2020, 12:59 AM

    @Perlum Sprite: think I speak for the middle class of our country when I say, we won’t be around to see what kind of job they do. Worrying times for people who make a bit

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    Mute tenlover
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    Feb 10th 2020, 1:00 AM

    @Perlum Sprite: yup agree, least they can do now is come good on housing etc. That would soften the economic blow big time

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    Mute Perlum Sprite
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    Feb 10th 2020, 1:01 AM

    @tenlover: the political system needed a shakeup. It got it. It could be good for all of us long term.

    27
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    Mute Laughable
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    Feb 10th 2020, 1:20 AM

    @tenlover: if ever I’ve seen somebody talk out of there ar**ho** it’s you, if you’ve actually been following, the Sinn Fein vote has been across the board.
    You seem to not realise Irish people in general are very patriotic, in that they want the country as a whole to do well, housing and health is falling to pieces. FG had 4 years and another 4 with FF backing them up and they couldn’t sort it whatsoever. What’s left to try? Sinn Fein, good luck to them I hope they succeed as I’m a patriot too.

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    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
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    Feb 10th 2020, 2:06 AM

    @Perlum Sprite: do you remember the credit crunch ??? I distinctly remember that starting in the USA… then spilling over to Germany who a lot European countries like Ireland, Greece, Portugal, Spain and even Italy owed a lot of money to German banks that stopped lending to other banks. Fianna Fail had nothing to do with it. I wish people would educate themselves on this and stop buying into that rubbish…

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    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
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    Feb 10th 2020, 2:10 AM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: also was watching Fox news about the election one of their analysts said it would be a good time for Bond holders to cash in their bonds. Which will result negatively on Ireland… so even though we vote for our governments, forgein investors can still put this country down the toilet when they want to.

    15
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    Mute Laughable
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    Feb 10th 2020, 2:10 AM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: They did, they concentrated too much of the economy into the construction sector.
    Easy money for them, stamp duty etc. Bad planning, corruption, brown envelopes etc. It’s all been shown to be true.
    We all know there were huge external factors as you’ve outlined but FF policy ballooned it to destroy our economy.
    You don’t run an economy by buying and selling houses to each other, fact. We borrowed from our children’s future.

    41
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    Mute Derek Lyster
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    Feb 10th 2020, 7:05 AM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: the collapse was so severe here because the was no plan in place to deal with it and we were so heavily reliant on construction. That was the fault of FF.

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    Mute Brian Henoll
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    Feb 10th 2020, 8:47 AM

    @Derek Lyster: You are partial right. But it is very hard to plan for a global
    crash so severe that it is up there with the great depression of 1929.
    This was many years in the making and we are still feeling the effects of it.
    My bet is that any party that had been in power at that time would have made the exact same mistakes that FF did.

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    Mute Clem J Ó Díomasaigh
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    Feb 10th 2020, 1:01 AM

    Very noble of Leo. Calling an election so people would be off coz it’s a weekend. Even though he forgot about those who work weekends, nights and unsocial hours to keep vital public services going and private sector workers in enterprises who also work all hours. He’d be only too delighted if the nurses and others are tied up at work. He had banked on the youth (off from college) to come out and vote for him and his cronies. That didn’t pan out so well for him. Slán libh FG.

    38
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    Mute David Memery
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    Feb 10th 2020, 7:05 AM

    @Clem J Ó Díomasaigh: in fairness, for years people have been saying how elections should be held at weekends as it would be more convenient. Unfortunately, no matter what day of the week is chosen it won’t suit everyone. Also, one test does not an experiment make, in this case the weather may have been an issue. We should also examine alternative methods of voting

    45
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    Mute Paul Whitehead
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    Feb 10th 2020, 7:17 AM

    @Clem J Ó Díomasaigh: 7am till 10pm. Even the saintly nurses can find 20 minutes in there to vote. Those who didn’t vote, close to 40%, are just disengaged, lazy, good-for-nothings who have no appreciation of the sacrifices made to give them the right AND DUTY to vote. No excuses.

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    Mute Seaniecp
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    Feb 10th 2020, 8:47 AM

    @Clem J Ó Díomasaigh: the workers your refer to which I am one of them dont only work weekends. So im not sure what point your trying to make.

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    Mute mcdb06
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    Feb 10th 2020, 12:09 PM

    @Seaniecp: Any excuse to have a cut at the current government by the sounds of it. People who were determined to vote to repeal the 8th travelled from all over the world to make sure they voted. Apparently some people are unwilling to make time for this election thought because it’s easier to whinge online

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    Mute Madra
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    Feb 10th 2020, 12:51 AM

    It was a shot gun election.
    My registration didn’t go through on time. All tactics by FG. (I’ve voted for over 30 years just moved house recently)

    28
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    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
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    Feb 10th 2020, 1:54 AM

    A lot of people are registered but they are working abroad like how many Irish are in Australia atm that are registered to vote I k ow it’s not 40% of the electrolate but it could be as high as 10 %… we have a very bad system in Ireland for voter registration.
    Some people are even on it twice. I.e having moved to different locations. It needs to e over hauled.

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    Mute Diane Dagg
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    Feb 10th 2020, 8:06 AM

    I moved house recently and received 3 polling cards to my house for last residents, one of whom moved out 6 years ago. My daughter received 2 polling cards, one in her old student house in Dublin and one in my previous home, she only voted once BTW, but her other vote will have gone down on the record as a “did not vote”, I know loads more cases of this. The electoral register is a joke and needs to be completely overhauled, surely they could use PPSN as a record for register, so if you re-register you automatically get removed from your previous address. PPSN used by HSE for many of their claiming schemes such as flu immunisations, so don’t see a GDPR issue.

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    Mute Sean Ryan
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    Feb 10th 2020, 1:29 AM

    63% turnout . 22% for each of the main parties
    So whichever group form a government will represent just 14% of those eligible to vote. Mandatory voting seems desirable.

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    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
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    Feb 10th 2020, 1:57 AM

    @Sean Ryan: so how do you get someone with dementia to vote… also a person has a right to spoil a vote… so they can just go down and defaced it or not mark anything… think about that why it’s not mandatory..

    14
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    Mute Conall
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    Feb 10th 2020, 7:04 AM

    @Paul O’Sullivan: A spoiled vote is a vote. You get fined if you don’t go to the polling booth, what you do with the ballot paper is up to you. That’s why its called a secret ballot.

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    Mute Laughable
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    Feb 10th 2020, 12:51 AM

    Crap weather, some old people stayed at home and more young took their place.

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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Feb 11th 2020, 6:10 PM

    @Laughable: I wonder what the breakdown is by age? Old people tend to get up very early, and not need as much sleep in general. They’re probably the most likely people to head out on a Saturday as soon as anything is open. I’d say they all voted early before the storm. It’ll be interesting to see the turnout sorted by age group.

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    Mute The Growler
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    Feb 10th 2020, 8:23 AM

    We need compulsory voting but we’ll never get is because none of the major parties want it. It scares the bejasus out of them. If the 38% who don’t vote were forced to vote the result would be No Safe Seats, this is why the big parties don’t want it, the current system suits them, they all get a turn iin government. Sad.

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    Mute Ed
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    Feb 10th 2020, 8:43 AM

    Weather was fine Saturday morning and anybody with no time to vote should have gotten up 20 minutes earlier. If the election was on a weekday students would have moaned about being in college and not being able to go home to vote.

    The poor excuses are starting to come out.

    8
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    Mute Jake Kelly
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    Feb 10th 2020, 8:01 AM

    Well it may be down to people not being in the country or perhaps part of it is due to more people living on the streets than were the last time we went to the polls for a general election. If they don’t have a home they don’t have a constituency to vote in and they can’t vote

    5
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    Mute Lily Martin
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    Feb 10th 2020, 2:57 AM

    Anyone know what the highest turn out was? Just to compare.

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    Mute Paul Whitehead
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    Feb 10th 2020, 7:20 AM

    @Lily Martin: 99.999% recurring in last Russian election. And I think the current President won by a landslide of 105% of that.

    14
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    Mute Philip O Brien
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    Feb 10th 2020, 6:53 AM

    @Anna69: Well you’ve got my vote…but aw, look, shucks, polling’s closed, sorry!

    4
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    Mute Gerard Lord
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    Feb 10th 2020, 8:07 AM

    Both me and my sister emigrated and we still get polling cards. They shouldn’t really include us .

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    Mute Pat Redmond
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    Feb 10th 2020, 9:42 AM

    Voting on a Sunday would ensure that students who go home for the weekend and miss voting as they have a new constituency have a chance to vote.

    2
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    Mute Joseph King
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    Feb 10th 2020, 11:41 AM

    Others couldn’t vote because of living in remote & rural areas with no transport of their own, & definitely no public transport available.!!

    2
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    Mute Thomas Corrigan
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    Feb 10th 2020, 6:28 PM

    I think thy should try vote by mobile phone since most people spend most time of day on their mobile. I think it was introduced years ago in one of baltic states worked and still works. Think about it TDs

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    Mute PMBinARG
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    Feb 10th 2020, 3:59 PM

    Blame it on Saturday polling day!

    1
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