asked the Minister for Local Government if with a view to having the annual Register of Electors as up to date and as complete as possible, he will arrange that the usual forms of application for votes, normally issued to householders with rates demand notes in June each year, are in future issued direct to each householder about the month of September, which is the time assigned for furnishing returns for compilation of Draft Electors Lists.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Register of Electors: Issue of Forms.
38.
The issue and the time and manner of issue of these forms are matters for the registration officer, who is the person responsible under the Electoral Act, 1923, for the compilation of the register of electors. It is not the normal practice to issue these forms with rates demand notes in June each year. I understand that this procedure is peculiar to County Kerry because of the unusual method by which the Kerry County Council collects the rates. It would be open to the registration officer for County Kerry, with the concurrence of the county council, to submit a proposal for the separate issue of registration forms in September. If such a proposal were to be made, I would be prepared to support an application to the Minister for Finance for sanction to any excess expenditure involved.