Vol. 513 No. 1
120 Ms Clune asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will report on the success or otherwise of the electronic voting and counting procedures used in the 1999 Dublin South Central by-election; the proposals, if any, he has to use the procedure in future elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1684/00]
123 Ms McManus asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the progress, if any, made in regard to the review by his Department of the possible introduction of electronic voting and counting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1586/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 123 together.
Electors of all ages who used the voting machine at the trial on the day of the Dublin South Central by-election generally expressed a positive attitude to the use of the machine in place of the traditional ballot paper. Many of the electors displayed interest in the system asking about details of its operation and the subsequent method of vote counting. Preliminary testing of equipment supplied by a number of companies is continuing and will be completed next month. I will be further considering the general question as to the use of electronic equipment at elections.
