I am voting in a constituency where there is one candidate I want to see elected; two or three I would be happy enough to see elected; multiple government party candidates I don't want to see elected; multiple government party candidates I don't want to see elected *and they're also anti-choice*; racists.
I absolutely do not want to see the latter elected - they're equally all as bad as each other. There is no advantage to transferring down that low to keep one out. Is there?
Once your ballot can't be transferred, it loses all power.
At that point, ballots sitting on the pile of a Freedom Party candidate who hasn't been elected or eliminated are more powerful than ballots that can't be transferred (even if it's -- ugh -- to the 2nd Fine Gael candidate).
If it came down to just 1 vote, it could be your ballot that will make the difference.
It's a hedge. If a preference in the first half of your ballot is certain to be elected, then your ballot may stop there and transfer no longer. But you can't be certain of that.
If they're the only candidates fighting for the last seat, it won't matter if you don't give them preferences. If they're fighting with a Fine Gaeler for the last seat, however, if your ballot can't be transferred to the gaeler, then it could help one of the others to get elected.
In the end, it boils down to whether your ballot can help someone get elected, or help prevent someone from being elected. You cannot predict with certainty who's going to vie for the last seat, but if your ballot still has power at that point, it will be used against those you reject, or -- even better -- for those you support.
In the OG I said that I know it's hard. So, if someone just can't give preferences to those candidates, it doesn't change the validity of the ballot, and I will always wish well on its journey from pile to pile.
Samhain Healy-Rae-Nua
in reply to Éibhear 🔭 • • •I am voting in a constituency where there is one candidate I want to see elected; two or three I would be happy enough to see elected; multiple government party candidates I don't want to see elected; multiple government party candidates I don't want to see elected *and they're also anti-choice*; racists.
I absolutely do not want to see the latter elected - they're equally all as bad as each other. There is no advantage to transferring down that low to keep one out. Is there?
Éibhear 🔭
in reply to Samhain Healy-Rae-Nua • •Once your ballot can't be transferred, it loses all power.
At that point, ballots sitting on the pile of a Freedom Party candidate who hasn't been elected or eliminated are more powerful than ballots that can't be transferred (even if it's -- ugh -- to the 2nd Fine Gael candidate).
If it came down to just 1 vote, it could be your ballot that will make the difference.
It's a hedge. If a preference in the first half of your ballot is certain to be elected, then your ballot may stop there and transfer no longer. But you can't be certain of that.
Samhain Healy-Rae-Nua
in reply to Éibhear 🔭 • • •Éibhear 🔭
in reply to Samhain Healy-Rae-Nua • •If they're the only candidates fighting for the last seat, it won't matter if you don't give them preferences. If they're fighting with a Fine Gaeler for the last seat, however, if your ballot can't be transferred to the gaeler, then it could help one of the others to get elected.
In the end, it boils down to whether your ballot can help someone get elected, or help prevent someone from being elected. You cannot predict with certainty who's going to vie for the last seat, but if your ballot still has power at that point, it will be used against those you reject, or -- even better -- for those you support.
In the OG I said that I know it's hard. So, if someone just can't give preferences to those candidates, it doesn't change the validity of the ballot, and I will always wish well on its journey from pile to pile.