Is it right for Polish citizens/Poles not living in PL to vote?

Piast PolandThreads: 3 Posts: 272 Joined: Aug 28, 10 ♂	May 9, 11, 04:34 #1
Should those that do not live in the country be allowed to influence decisions which they will not have to live with? Are Poles abroad knowledgeable enough about Polish politics and reality to vote in national elections? Should this be allowed or at least taken only most seriously.

rybnikThreads: 29 Posts: 1,232 Joined: Jan 16, 11 ♂	May 9, 11, 04:45 #2
Piast Poland: Should those that do not live in the country be allowed to influence decisions which they will not have to live with? Are Poles abroad knowledgeable enough about Polish politics and reality to vote in national elections? Should this be allowed or at least taken only most seriously. Polish citizenship = right to vote. Simple.

Piast PolandThreads: 3 Posts: 272 Joined: Aug 28, 10 ♂	May 9, 11, 04:47 #3
But not all countries allow its citizens living abroad to vote. I think its nice to have it, but there are problems with it too.

VarsovianThreads: 91 Posts: 568 Joined: Nov 23, 06 ♂	May 9, 11, 11:05 #4
Not knowing what the future will bring (e.g. I might like to spend more time in the UK when my kids become independent), I'm nervous about registering to vote in UK national elections. They like evidence like this of your "centre of life interests" for tax purposes. So, I'm going to lose my UK right to vote. Anyway, I would have to register in a safe Tory seat, so my vote would change nothing.

pawianThreads: 90 Posts: 5,397 Joined: May 30, 08 ♂	Edited by: pawian May 9, 11, 11:40 #5
rybnik: Polish citizenship = right to vote. Simple. Not so simple. If you leave Poland temporarily, e..g, are gojng to come back after a year or two, you should keep the right to vote abroad. If you decide to settle in a foreign country for good, then the right to vote is an unjustified privilege, unfair to those who stay in Poland.

♂ [Suspended]

May 9, 11, 11:52 #6

Piast Poland:

Should those that do not live in the country be allowed to influence decisions which they will not have to live with? Are Poles abroad knowledgeable enough about Polish politics and reality to vote in national elections? Should this be allowed or at least taken only most seriously.

Of course they shouldn't be allowed to vote. Anything more than 5 years out of the country should immediately disqualify you from voting in elections and referenda - unless on official Polish business, such as being an ambassador.

You just need to look at the last few elections to see how Polish Americans have voted - often after being in possession of some very wrong 'facts' about the candidates. I read so much rubbish about Kaczynski being the "conservative" candidate last time, for instance.

HarryThreads: 62 Posts: 8,508 Joined: May 2, 07 ♂ [Suspended]	May 9, 11, 12:07 #7
Piast Poland: But not all countries allow its citizens living abroad to vote. Such as Britain. I lost my right to vote there last year. However there is a legal challenge currently being made to this and the European Court of Justice have asked Britain to explain itself.

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May 9, 11, 12:12 #8

Harry:

Such as Britain. I lost my right to vote there last year.

Same here. The reasoning behind the rule was to stop all the Tory voting southerners who live in Spain from distorting the results in marginal constituencies. The issues withing the EU are part of an ongoing row - the eastern countries dislike the idea of non-citizens voting, the rules in some other contries are entirely the other way and Italian politicians are kicking up a fuss abbout Americans who've never been to Italy potentially losing their voting 'rights'.

rybnikThreads: 29 Posts: 1,232 Joined: Jan 16, 11 ♂	May 9, 11, 23:50 #9
Interesting thread so far.

Piast PolandThreads: 3 Posts: 272 Joined: Aug 28, 10 ♂	May 10, 11, 01:54 #10
I do not think it is right. Unless you are really into politics you do not know the reality. How can you make an informed decision? But then again how informed are the voters at home? Also is it right to vote for your family-friends?

EurolaThreads: 6 Posts: 2,647 Joined: Dec 2, 06 ♀	May 10, 11, 05:19 #11
Unless you are here only for a visit and are going back within a year ot two, yes, you can vote and you should. All others who live here and have American citizenship -- keep your hands off the polls. Let your family in Poland and Polish citizens decide their fate.

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