Vol. 480 No. 2
244 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to concern and annoyance on the part of those who work in polling stations in general elections in view of the fact that they are precluded from casting their vote if they are stationed outside their own constituency; if he intends to rectify this situation prior to the next election; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14036/97]
At a presidential election or referendum, election staff, regardless of where they are registered as electors, may be authorised to vote at the polling station at which they are employed. At Dáil, European and local elections, election staff may be authorised to vote at the polling station at which they are employed provided that the polling station is within the constituency or electoral area in which they are registered as electors.
In the case of a presidential election and a referendum a common ballot paper is used in all constituencies; as a separate election takes place in each constituency in the case of a Dáil and a European election and in each electoral area in the case of a local election, it would not be appropriate to authorise an elector to vote in a constituency or electoral area other than the one for which he or she is registered.
There are no proposals to amend the law in this matter.
