---

- - - LATEST - - - LATEST - - - LATEST - - - LATEST - - -

---

Make Your Vote Count	The Parties / Candidates Policies on Abortion
Voter's Guide	VOTE for LIFE Facebook Page
VOTE for LIFE News ..Official launch of Campaign ..Bishop's statement calls on people to vote for life ..Election Candidate reports Precious Life to campus security for distributing VOTE FOR LIFE leaflets outside Belfast University ..PRO-LIFE STANCE IS IMPORTANT IN DERRY says SDLP Foyle Assembly Candidate Pat Ramsey

CANDIDATES IN YOUR CONSTITUENCY
East Antrim	East Belfast	East Londonderry	Fermanagh/ South Tyrone	Foyle	Lagan Valley	Mid-Ulster	Newry and Armagh	North Antrim
North Belfast	North Down	South Antrim	South Belfast	South Down	Strangford	Upper Bann	West Belfast	West Tyrone
!!! Check regularly for Updates !!!

There is a concerted campaign by international organisations to legalise abortion in our country. Therefore, we must only elect politicians who will proudly defend the pro-life ethos of Northern Ireland and courageously speak up for the rights of our unborn children.

When considering who to vote for in this election, there will be many other issues that concern you - the economy; health; unemployment; education; policing; etc. The right to life of unborn children is not the only issue facing you at the polling booth. However, ask yourself this:
Can I vote for a candidate who will not protect the rights of every person
- BEFORE as well as after BIRTH?
Whatever their merits, such a candidate cannot be considered suitable for political office, no matter how appealing their other policies may be. Vote only for a candidate who supports protecting unborn children and their mothers from abortion.

[BACK TO TOP]

---

1. Why should I vote?

2. How do I know where the candidates stand on the issue of abortion?

3. What if a candidate say he/she is opposed to abortion except in certain circumstances cases, where the mother’s life or health is in danger, or in cases of rape or incest?


1. Why should I vote?
Living in a democracy is a privilege, given the fact that so many around the world must live with leaders they did not choose. Each election provides an opportunity for people to use their vote to advance the cause of life, especially the most vulnerable in our society - unborn children in danger of abortion.

As Election Day draws near we are aware that some people are in a moral quandary and think that no candidate is worthy of their support. Some are even inclined not to vote at all.

We urge all people to fully participate in the political process and to use their vote to defend the most vulnerable in our society. By doing so we will move closer to that day when each and every human being is welcomed in life and protected in law.

If we don't elect people who will defend the right to life, efforts to secure any other rights are in peril.

[BACK TO VOTER’S GUIDE]

2. How do I know where the candidates stand on the issue of abortion
On Election Day, we will make critical decisions about the types of leaders we will have for the next four years. If you have not been doing so, it is time to begin looking more carefully at the candidates who will be running.

To make the right decision when deciding on the candidates whom you will support, it is essential that you look carefully at the positions of the candidates. This step in the process is critical in fulfilling your responsibilities as you must participate in the political process with a fully informed conscience. This includes knowing the positions of the candidates.

•  see our guide to the parties/candidates views on abortion here

•  contact the candidate's office to make an inquiry about his or her position. If possible, this should be done well in advance of the election and should include a request for a response in writing. The reason for this is that, especially in local campaigns, phones can be answered by people who think they know more about the candidate than they actually do.  Once you find sources of this information, be sure to review them carefully.



Frequently politicians make statements like, "I’m personally opposed to abortion" or, "I would never encourage a woman to have an abortion."  Rather than offering comfort to pro-life voters, statements like these should raise red flags, as they are typically followed by, "but I would never impose my personal beliefs on anybody else," or some similar statement. Even in cases in which these words do not follow, they are often implied. In such cases, be sure to look for a clearer statement of the candidate's position, again, in writing if possible.



And remember, the key question is not simply what the candidate believes. Ask what the candidate will do to protect the rights of unborn children.


•  Pay attention to what groups have been endorsed or promoted by a candidate. This says a lot about what the candidate stands for. You will know a person by his or her friends.

[BACK TO VOTER’S GUIDE]

3. What if a candidate say he/she is opposed to abortion except in certain circumstances cases, where the mother’s life or health is in danger, or in cases of rape or incest
There are no medical circumstances in which the life or health of a mother can only be saved by deliberately killing her unborn child. Rare and unusual conditions can arise during pregnancy when a pregnant mother requires essential medical treatment which may result in the unavoidable death of her unborn child. However, such treatment is not abortion.

  If there is difficult circumstances surrounding the child’s conception (eg. rape or sexual abuse), or if the child may have a disability or social problems; the right response is one of compassion for both the mother and her child. It can never be compassionate to deliberately take the life of an innocent child.


[BACK TO VOTER’S GUIDE]

[BACK TO TOP OF PAGE]

---

[BACK TO TOP]