Vol. 555 No. 1
27 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the constituencies in which he intends to have electronic voting for the forthcoming referendum; if electronic voting is not used, the reasons therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17428/02]
51 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if it is intended to conduct a review of the operation of electronic voting, having regard to dissatisfaction at the manner in which the counts were conducted and the results announced in the recent general election; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17368/02]
383 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his proposals for the further development and modification of electronic voting in elections; if additional information will be made available from the new voting system, such as a breakdown of results by polling station, polling district or district electoral division; if such information from electronic voting is retained or deleted following elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17870/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 51 and 383 together.
Voting machines and electronic vote counting will be used in the following seven constituencies at the referendum: Dublin Mid-West, Dublin North, Dublin South, Dublin South-West, Dublin West, Dún Laoghaire and Meath. It would not be possible at present to use the system more widely due to time constraints on the supply of voting machines, on staff training and on organisational logistics.
A review of the use of voting machines and electronic vote counting in three constituencies at the last general election has been completed and I am considering it before deciding on the use of the system in other constituencies at future polls. The votes contained in the ballot modules will be deleted after six months from polling day in line with current statutory requirements of destroying paper ballots after six months.
