asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that blind and partially-blind persons feel so aggrieved about the procedure through which they must go in order to exercise the franchise, resulting in their preferences becoming known to the returning officer, poll clerks and personation agents, that very many of them have always abstained from voting; and if he will provide a new procedure whereby a blind person may bring a relative or friend with him, when voting, to mark his paper.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Voting by Blind Persons.
Mr. Murphy
Persons who cannot vote without assistance are given the assistance of the presiding officer at the polling booth who marks the ballot papers in the presence of the poll clerks and agents, all of whom are under obligation to maintain the secrecy of the ballot. The right of the voter to have the paper marked in accordance with his direction is thus fully protected. I am anxious to facilitate blind persons and others who may be unable to mark their ballot papers, but it is essential that any alternative method adopted would not lead to electoral abuses.