16 May 2006

Environment

Avoiding Voter Fraud

Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on substituting the pencils normally used at polling stations with ballpoint pens in order to provide greater protection from ballots being interfered with after marking by the voter in view of the allegation of voter fraud in the recent elections in Belarus; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche): While pencils are provided for the convenience of voters at polling stations, it is not a requirement of electoral law that voters must avail of them for use when voting. Voters may bring their own pens to the polling station, and may use them, for the purpose of voting. However, pencils are considered to be generally more practical than pens in such circumstances, and are easily maintained and less likely to give rise to difficulties.