Written answers

Tuesday, 29 May 2018

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Electoral Register

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

627. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the efforts being made by his Department to counteract voter fraud and protect the integrity of the electoral register; the details of instances made known to his Department involving persons being added to the register who did not ask to be registered or who were not eligible to be added in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23354/18]

Photo of John Paul PhelanJohn Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the preparation of the Register of Electors is a matter in law for each local registration authority my Department does not compile information of the kind referred to. It is the duty of each local registration authority to ensure, as far as possible and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the Register. The focus of my Department's work in relation to the Register is to support and assist registration authorities in ensuring that an appropriate legislative framework is in place.

Electoral law provides for significant measures in relation to voter identification and the prevention of personation in order to counteract voter fraud and to protect the integrity of the Register. At the polling station the returning officer or the presiding officer may, or if required by a personation agent shall, request any person applying for a ballot paper to produce a specified identification document. If a person fails to produce the identification required they are not permitted to vote. My Department has recommended to returning officers that at least one in four voters should be asked for the required identification.

Electoral law also provides for a range of offences and penalties in this regard. Section 149 of the Electoral Act 1992 (as applied to referendums by section 6 of the Referendum Act 1994) provides that a person who is not registered or who is registered but not entitled to be so registered shall not be entitled to vote. The Act also provides that it is an offence to vote when not entitled to do so.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.