Gay Mitchell
Ceist:82 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment if he will review the provisions for presiding officers to ensure that they are allowed votes whether they are presiding in their own constituency or not.
Written Answers. - Presiding Officers.
Under the Presidential Elections Act, 1993, polling staff whose duties at a presidential election prevent them voting at their local polling station may be authorised to vote at another station, whether or not that station is situated in the elector's own constituency. Similar provision in relation to referenda is contained in the Referendum Bill which was recently passed by the Dáil. In the case of a European election, an elector in the situation referred to may be authorised to vote at any polling station in the European Parliament constituency concerned.
At a Dáil or local election, a separate election takes place in each constituency or electoral area and it would not be appropriate to authorise an elector to vote in a constituency or electoral area, other than the one for which he/she is registered.