Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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200. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if, under electoral laws and regulations for presiding officers or poll clerks, a voter without proof of identity can be asked to swear an oath on a bible as a means of confirming identity and if it can be decided to provide a ballot paper to the voter on the basis of whether or not the oath is taken. [21052/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Legal provisions governing the right to vote provide that the returning officer or the presiding officer may of their own volition, or if so required by a personation agent present in the polling station, request any person at the time of applying to vote to produce a specified identity document. If the person fails to produce such a document or if the returning officer or presiding officer is not satisfied that the person is the person to whom the document relates, they shall not be permitted to vote.

In addition, the returning officer or presiding officer may, and if so requested by a personation agent present in the polling station shall, put a number of questions or administer an oath or affirmation to an elector in relation to their eligibility to vote, including their identity. If the answers provided are incorrect or if person refuses to take the oath or make the affirmation, they shall not be permitted to vote. Any person who objects to taking an oath on the ground that they have no religious belief or that the taking of an oath is contrary to their religious belief may make an affirmation instead of taking an oath.