First time voter seeks advice on the process

Claw Hammer

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

I have been told otherwise by people who heard it from an actual returning officer at an actual count.

It is not allowed by law.
When has there been a situation where two candidates got the same first preference vote and the same number of transfers on each subsequent count and were then faced with one or other being eliminated?
If the returning officer attempted to do it by reference to the candidates existing votes the losing candidate would challenge it in the courts. there is a very clear procedure to be followed and vague stories about people who were at counts and saw something done is just poppycock.

Zubeneschamali

Claw Hammer wrote: »

When has there been a situation where two candidates got the same first preference vote and the same number of transfers on each subsequent count and were then faced with one or other being eliminated?

I don't believe it has ever happened in a Dáil election, it is vanishingly unlikely with any large number of votes.

Claw Hammer

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

I don't believe it has ever happened in a Dáil election, it is vanishingly unlikely with any large number of votes.

If it has never happened, how were you told something by people who saw it happening?

Zubeneschamali

Claw Hammer wrote: »

If it has never happened, how were you told something by people who saw it happening?

I din't say they saw it happen, I said a returning officer told them at a count that that was how you would split a tie.

If it happened.

Which it never did and probably never will.

Claw Hammer

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

I din't say they saw it happen, I said a returning officer told them at a count that that was how you would split a tie.

If it happened.

Which it never did and probably never will.

If a returning officer said that, the candidates would object pretty quickly. It is no basis in law. It is most unlikely any returning officer ever said it. You were obviously being spoofed.