Sunday voting
I thought the days of Downing Street trying to fix elections so the DUP didn't prosper had gone. But then I read that Gordon Brown's Governance Green Paper is canvassing the idea of voting on Sundays to boost turnout. Surely, I thought, this will discriminate against all those DUP sabbatarians?
I've just taken a look at the Green Paper. It does indeed talk about weekend voting in general and local elections. There's no suggestion that devolved elections will be changed. The Green Paper promises that "the consultation will take into account the needs of religious groups, to ensure that those with religious objections to voting on a Saturday or Sunday have an opportunity to vote in a way that is consistent with their beliefs."
I'm not quite sure what this means - will all the sabbatarians have postal votes? And what will sabbatarian candidates and agents do - could we be robbed of all that hymn singing which normally accompanies a victory speech?
The Electoral Office has indicated it will go for overnight counting at future General elections to put us in the same boat as the rest of the UK. But what if some of their counting staff refuse to clock on until midnight?
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Mmm...can't see the Free Pee version of the big beardy man in the sky being too happy with this one.
The DUP can hardly encourage their supporters to get out and vote on a Sunday, can they?
It wouldn't affect the hymn singing though, because that would be on the monday.
Similar problems if it's moved to saturday voting. No problem voting, but the counters would clock off at midnight and the candidates and agents wouldn't be present at the declarations. On top of that, Jewish people would be discriminated against.
Another problem with Sunday voting: what if Armagh get to the all-Ireland final on election day? 30,000 voters going to Mass, having lunch then heading down to Croke Park. Could lead to a Unionist victory in south Armagh!
I wouldn't get too excited about this just yet. Tony Blair had some bright ideas about reforming the House of Lords at the start of his tenure. Gradually the weight of office and other, pressing priorities kick in.
Eventually the 'nice to have' stuff moves down the batting order, and with any luck much of the initial raft of ideas borne with enthusiasm gets kicked into the long grass. Rather reassuring really - it is like those new Chief Execs who come promising to transform the company - but once they get their feet under the desk their enthusiasm for swimming through treacle diminishes and the status quo suddenly doesn't look such a bad place to be.
Now, once he's sorted out the floods, Sunday voting won't seem such a good idea. A very wise person once said - Hard work always pays off in the end, but procrastination pays off now..