Amendments Nos. 207 and 208 are related and may be discussed together, by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.
SECTION 52.
Acting Chairman
I move amendment No. 207:
In page 39, after line 44, to insert the following new subsection:
"(2) For the purposes of this section ‘employment' and ‘service' shall be deemed to include participation by a person on a full time basis on an educational course of study in an educational institution in the State."
The purpose of amendments Nos. 207 and 208 is to clarify the postal voting arrangements provided for in Part VII which will apply to students resident away from their place of registration for the purpose of pursuing their studies.
Section 52 extends the right to be entered in the postal voters' list to electors who satisfy the registration authority that the circumstances of their occupation or employment are such as to make it likely that they cannot vote at the normal polling stations on an appointed day. Section 52, as drafted, does not explicitly provide for the entry of persons who may not be able to vote at their polling station because of absence from their registered address due to attendance at university or college. I want to ensure that the same provision applies to students as applies to those who, because of their employment, cannot vote in their normal voting place.
Acting Chairman
Prior to the Minister coming into the meeting I spoke to some of his officials. Will this measure be in effect for an election which might be held before the summer?
No. It is our intention to bring this regime into effect as quickly as we can. It is not realistic to expect it to be in place in the event that there would be an election in the immediate future.
Acting Chairman
I have had many inquiries from people who turned 18 after 15 February. It would appear these people are ineligible to vote and it is a great pity that measure cannot be put into effect.
That issue will be addressed but the measure will not be in place if there is an election in the immediate future.
Amendment agreed to.
Section 52, as amended, agreed to.