Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 2 Jun 1999

Vol. 505 No. 7

Written Answers. - Ballot Papers.

Michael Bell

Question:

78 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on whether the holding of more than one election on the same day causes a situation to arise where the voter will commence a sequence of preference votes on the first ballot paper and continue the sequence to subsequent papers (details supplied); his further views on whether the voters intention is always clear in this situation; his views on whether there was consistency in the way these continuous sequence ballot papers were ruled upon by the European constituency returning officers in multiple polls held on the same day (details supplied); whether this matter should be addressed in view of the multiple elections on 11 June 1999; if he will issue a clear instruction to the chief returning officer and the local returning officers in favour of maximising the enfranchisement of voters [14689/99]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

The conduct of an election, including decisions on the validity of ballot papers, is a matter for the appropriate returning officer in accordance with the relevant legislative code. In order to assist returning officers in the performance of their functions at the forthcoming elections, my Department has issued guidance in relation to, inter alia, the validity of ballot papers. This guidance has suggested that, for the purpose of consistency, returning officers at the European and local elections should accept as valid individual ballot papers which include a sequence of preferences which suggest that voters followed on from preferences recorded on the ballot papers at another election held on the same day. However, notwithstanding this advice, the decision of a returning officer in relation to any ballot paper is final, sub ject only to reversal on a petition questioning the election.