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Transfers between party candidates
One quite noticeable feature of recent elections is that voters are more likely to spread their support among a number of parties. Rather than voting by party, it seems that more and more people are voting by candidate. There are a number of possible reasons for this:- a) there are more parties contesting elections nowadays - for a long period there was very little choice other than FF, FG and Labour. Then, the WP/DL, the PDs, and the Greens started to contest elections and win Dail seats. Although DL have disappeared into the Labour party, SF and the Socialist party have appeared. b) there is less difference between the main parties. If the make-up of the government is not very important to voters, then it makes sense to vote for candidates in order of their merit, regardless of party. In both the November 1982 and the 1997 general elections, the 5-seat Limerick East constituency elected both a FF and a FG candidate on the first count. The following tables show how their votes transferred to party colleagues:-
In the Nov 1982 election, there were 11 candidates, including 3 each from FF and FG. In 1997 there were 14 candidates, including 3 from FF and 2 from FG. Perhaps the difference in the percentage of transfers between O'Dea and Noonan in 1997 is accounted for by there only being 1 FG candidate available to receive transfers as against 2 for FF. Overall, the rate of FF-FF and FG-FG transfers was quite similar in 1997 (click here for details). The Nov 1982 election results will be included in a future version of election database. |
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