There is a real prospect of pro-life gains in the upcoming elections, writes Eilís Mulroy
Before voters go to the polls in Irish elections, the Pro Life Campaign has, for many years now, published a ‘Voter Guide’ with a comprehensive list of candidates and where they stand on right-to-life issues.
As well as being an invaluable guide to voters, it ensures genuinely pro-life candidates are rewarded for their stance, while it reminds abortion supporting candidates that they stand to lose votes over their support for abortion.
In advance of the upcoming local and European elections on June 7, the Pro Life Campaign is once again calling on supporters to ‘think pro-life’ before they vote and to consult the up-to-date version of the ‘Voter Guide’ on its website.
Excellent
Across the country, in most constituencies, there are excellent pro-life candidates running who stand a good chance of getting elected provided we get behind them. Making sure that we inform ourselves about the candidates running in our own local electoral areas and also passing on this information to family and friends is the key to more pro-life candidates crossing the victory line.
After giving our highest preference votes to pro-life candidates, we should use our additional preferences wisely to help ensure that the most extreme pro-abortion candidates do not get elected.
The proportional representation (PR) system that exists in Ireland allows us to vote for the candidates we most want to see elected (pro-life candidates) and to tactically vote against candidates we least want to see succeed (pro-abortion candidates).
A significant proportion of the electorate are pro-life but their views and concerns are not adequately represented by those in public office”
That’s the reason why the Pro Life Campaign provides additional information on the election section of its website about candidates other than those listed as pro-life. By voting No.1 for the candidate you most want to see elected and then voting down the ballot paper to the candidate you least want to see elected, you ensure the best possible outcome for the pro-life issue.
Given the massive rise in abortion numbers since the law changed and the horrifying amount of taxpayers’ money being spent solely on abortion provision (€46 million in just four years), there is an drastic need for more pro-life public representatives at local and national level – representatives who will not be cowed by the current political establishment and who will work as a united team to shift the public policy focus away from the promotion of abortion to instead focusing on initiatives that will help reduce the abortion rate and foster a renewed respect for human life in society at large.
A significant proportion of the electorate are pro-life but their views and concerns are not adequately represented by those in public office. This needs to change and the way to change it is for people to make a conscious decision to vote pro-life at election time.
There has to be electoral consequences for those in government who promised voters before the last abortion referendum that abortion would be “rare” in Ireland if the people support the repeal of the Eighth Amendment. The more we spread the word about what has happened the more people will become awakened to the need for things to be done differently.
The recent March for Life in Dublin, which extended in length across two sides of St Stephen’s Green was an event that showed the potential that’s there to effect real political change if everyone plays their part.
In the time remaining before election day, we need to turn the call to ‘vote pro-life’ into actual votes.
Difference
This is our chance to make a real difference. What happens in the upcoming elections will determine who represents us for the next five years and whether progress is made in reducing the number of abortions taking place and in restoring some semblance of balance in public discourse on the issue.
The pro-life candidates running in the upcoming elections are making huge personal sacrifices in stepping forward. The least we can do is set aside a small amount of time to familiar ourselves with the ‘Voter Guide’ in advance of election day and make sure that our family and friends know where to look for information on the stances of candidates before they vote.
The election ‘Voter Guide’ can be viewed at www.prolifecampaign.ie
Elections 2024: Using every preference on the ballot paper to deliver change on the pro-life issue
There is a real prospect of pro-life gains in the upcoming elections, writes Eilís Mulroy
Before voters go to the polls in Irish elections, the Pro Life Campaign has, for many years now, published a ‘Voter Guide’ with a comprehensive list of candidates and where they stand on right-to-life issues.
As well as being an invaluable guide to voters, it ensures genuinely pro-life candidates are rewarded for their stance, while it reminds abortion supporting candidates that they stand to lose votes over their support for abortion.
In advance of the upcoming local and European elections on June 7, the Pro Life Campaign is once again calling on supporters to ‘think pro-life’ before they vote and to consult the up-to-date version of the ‘Voter Guide’ on its website.
Excellent
Across the country, in most constituencies, there are excellent pro-life candidates running who stand a good chance of getting elected provided we get behind them. Making sure that we inform ourselves about the candidates running in our own local electoral areas and also passing on this information to family and friends is the key to more pro-life candidates crossing the victory line.
After giving our highest preference votes to pro-life candidates, we should use our additional preferences wisely to help ensure that the most extreme pro-abortion candidates do not get elected.
The proportional representation (PR) system that exists in Ireland allows us to vote for the candidates we most want to see elected (pro-life candidates) and to tactically vote against candidates we least want to see succeed (pro-abortion candidates).
That’s the reason why the Pro Life Campaign provides additional information on the election section of its website about candidates other than those listed as pro-life. By voting No.1 for the candidate you most want to see elected and then voting down the ballot paper to the candidate you least want to see elected, you ensure the best possible outcome for the pro-life issue.
Given the massive rise in abortion numbers since the law changed and the horrifying amount of taxpayers’ money being spent solely on abortion provision (€46 million in just four years), there is an drastic need for more pro-life public representatives at local and national level – representatives who will not be cowed by the current political establishment and who will work as a united team to shift the public policy focus away from the promotion of abortion to instead focusing on initiatives that will help reduce the abortion rate and foster a renewed respect for human life in society at large.
A significant proportion of the electorate are pro-life but their views and concerns are not adequately represented by those in public office. This needs to change and the way to change it is for people to make a conscious decision to vote pro-life at election time.
There has to be electoral consequences for those in government who promised voters before the last abortion referendum that abortion would be “rare” in Ireland if the people support the repeal of the Eighth Amendment. The more we spread the word about what has happened the more people will become awakened to the need for things to be done differently.
The recent March for Life in Dublin, which extended in length across two sides of St Stephen’s Green was an event that showed the potential that’s there to effect real political change if everyone plays their part.
In the time remaining before election day, we need to turn the call to ‘vote pro-life’ into actual votes.
Difference
This is our chance to make a real difference. What happens in the upcoming elections will determine who represents us for the next five years and whether progress is made in reducing the number of abortions taking place and in restoring some semblance of balance in public discourse on the issue.
The pro-life candidates running in the upcoming elections are making huge personal sacrifices in stepping forward. The least we can do is set aside a small amount of time to familiar ourselves with the ‘Voter Guide’ in advance of election day and make sure that our family and friends know where to look for information on the stances of candidates before they vote.
The election ‘Voter Guide’ can be viewed at www.prolifecampaign.ie
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