electoral

Vote For Me, Then Butt Out

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Local elections take place two weeks from today, on Thursday May 2nd. Some are fed up with the political status quo: “Tired of the same old self-serving rubbish? Maybe it’s time for a chance. Politicians are elected by you to serve you. Demand honesty, demand transparency, demand better.” The “blue” (unionist) candidate is described as having “superficial charm, egocentricity, untruthfulness & insincerity, lack of remorse & shame, poor judgement, failure to plan & learn from experience” and voters are counselled “when electing a candidate, always seek the advice of a qualified psychologist.” The placards are posted on Ormeau bridge, between nationalist lower Ormeau and unionist Annadale. At the top of the light-pole, actual candidate Paul Loughran is standing from People Before Profit, which we have seen before advertising in both loyalist and republican areas: see Pick And Mix.

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Not Politically Correct

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Former TUV but now independent Councillor Jolene Bunting (web) was elected from the Court district in west Belfast in 2014. Her 2019 campaign posters (seen here around Lanark Way and Shankill Road) have drawn criticism (NewsLetter) – in addition to those shown here are “Put veterans before immigrants” and “Local homes for local people”. Her appeal against a 4-month suspension for anti-Islamic remarks was rejected last week, despite her claim that elected representatives have enhanced freedom of speech (Irish Times).

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Dinosaurs Under Paisley

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Commentary on the largest loyalist political party, the Democratic Unionists, under the flyover at Nelson Street, Belfast: DUP – dinosaurs under Paisley.

Previously: End The Age Of Dinosaurs.

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Mar Uachtarán

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Voters in the Irish Republic go to the polls today (October 26th, 2018) to elect a president. Northerners cannot vote, though a referendum to allow residents of Northern Ireland to vote in presidential elections is expected in 2019 (BelTel). Nonetheless, these posters for Sinn Féın candidate Lıadh Ní Rıada are at the Glen Road/Falls Road roundabout in west Belfast.

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Extra Effort

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Election posters urging people to vote unionist but without specifying the party. “Make an eXtra effort to vote this time” and “Lead by eXample – use your vote”.

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Sloganeering

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“The Stormont swamp is irreformable”, claims the TUV election manifesto. “It’s time to drain it.” The expression “drain the swamp” in politics goes back to (at least) 1903 when it was used by an American socialist in reference to capitalistic influence in and is borrowed from the literal practice of draining swamps in order to reduce mosquitoes, and so, malaria.

Another Americanism is shown in the second image: Barak Obama’s “Yes we can” became Hillary Clinton’s “Yes, she can”, which Naomi Long (Alliance), the , is using for her own campaign.

Polls are open today from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

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Weak Bridge

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It’s back to polls on Thursday for the UK General Election, including 18 Northern Ireland constituencies. The Alliance Party is an “Other” party, neither nationalist nor unionist. Party leader Naomi Long is standing in east Belfast.

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Stand With Theresa May

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The UK general election takes place on Thursday (June 8th), only two years after the previous one. The (British) Conservative party hopes to increase its majority of 17 seats/votes. The NI Conservatives (web) are fielding candidates in 7 of the 18 seats but are not expected to contribute to the overall Conservative tally.

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Fight For Your Rights

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The UK general election takes place Thursday week (June 8th). Here are two Sınn Féın boards, both at the junction of the Falls and Glen Roads (site of the former Andersonstown police station), the first featuring the image of Michelle O’Neill and exhorting people to “register to vote now!” (Claragh chun vótáıl anoıs) and the second a quote from Gerry Adams’s oration at the graveside of Martin McGuinness: “If you want freedom, go out and take it. Organise. Mobilise. Unite for rights” (Más saoırse atá uaıt, gabh amach agus beır greım uırthı. Eagraıgh, gríosaıgh, troıd ar son do chearta.) A copy of Latuff’s Ireland-Palestine hunger-striker solidarity cartoon (which he also painted as a mural in Northumberland St) has been added to Michelle’s lapel.

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Back To The Polls

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Voters go back to the polls for a UK general election on June 8th. Election materials for the Stormont elections are still visible, such as this Gerry Kelly placard in the Sınn Féın offices in Ardoyne, defaced with a Saoradh ‘quislings’ poster, also from the last Stormont election. John Finucane, rather than Kelly, is the Sınn Féın candidate for the general election this time (Irish News).

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