Vol. 402 No. 2
62 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment in view of the fact that 12,000 election officials are being denied their constitutional right to exercise the franchise in the Presidential election, if he will introduce the facility of a postal vote to enable presiding officers and pollclerks to vote and carry out their duties at the same time; whether he proposes to amend the Electoral Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
There is no provision in Presidential elections law whereby a person employed by a local returning officer who is unable, by reason of his duties at the election, to vote at his own polling station, may be authorised to vote at another polling station. A large proportion of electoral officials will, of course, be engaged at their own polling place and the number of persons likely to be affected will be substantially less than that stated in the question.
In the light of experience at the present election, I propose to carry out a comprehensive review of the Presidential elections code but I have no proposals for an extension of postal voting.
