Alice Said:

UK: Anyone know why Irish citizens are allowed to vote in General Elections?

We Answered:

I had never really thought about it and don't know why. I just did a search to try and find out the reason but all I came up with is that a british citizen can also vote in the rebublic of Ireland.

Edit. Just found this site that explains the history behind it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland_Act…

Barry Said:

Why, in the UK, are we considered an adult in terms of money at the age of 16 but not allowed to vote until 18?

We Answered:

It's inconsistent in all sorts of other ways as well... 50 years ago, you could leave school at 15 and work, but were not able to vote until 21. Then there's the fact that 17 is the legal age to drive a car...

It's a matter of what you consider to be legal responsibilities that only adults can have. You can work at 16 (and even earlier, with restrictions on the hours of work, and even children pay tax on their savings interest if they have enough of it), but the legal age of adulthood is 18 and it is only at 18 that you can legally enter binding enforceable contracts or have a credit card (and the first answer is wrong: you still have to be over 21 to be elected as an MP). And until the age of 18, your parents still have legal responsibility for you as a non-adult.

If you leave school at 16, yes, you are expected to be almost adult, so there's a good argument for perhaps reducing the legal age for everything to 16, but I can't see it reducing any time soon. For one thing, one very recent Act of Parliament is soon going to increase the compulsory education leaving age to 18 - you will still be able to go out to work at 16, but it will be compulsory to be in some kind of education or training at the same time until 18. (I'm a British civil servant who works in the government department responsible for "skills", so I know!)

It's only a two-year gap, but I appreciate that two years seems like forever when you're 16.

Ross Said:

The "No Vote" Party. (UK)?

We Answered:

In the USA, in 1972, I toyed with the idea of a "Null Party." These would be people who if they were elected, would pledge to not serve.

It would not be necessary if there were a choice, "None of the Above."

I relinquish all rights to this title.

Politicians would hate you. People would be suspicious that an elected Null Party candidate would not take the office. It could be the first international party since Communism.

Henry Said:

Illegal Immigrants In UK Vote Labour?

We Answered:

If they are allowed to vote being here illegally, I cannot see how they managed to get on the electoral register, unless there is something that you haven't told us. The fact that they are illegal means they have no right to vote. So I can't see where you are getting this info from, and I doubt if you have any evidence to actually prove this.