Department defends one-day deadline for presidential election postal voters

THE DEPARTMENT of the Environment yesterday defended a deadline that gives those wanting to vote in the presidential election by post just one day to register.

Ads appearing in the national media yesterday reminded those not yet on the register of electors to apply to their local council by Monday, October 10th. Those wanting to vote by post, however, were given a deadline of today.

Describing postal voters as including those with “a physical illness or disability and resident in a hospital, nursing home or similar institution”, the ad says application forms must be completed and returned to the local council office by today.

Those who due to illness or disability are unable to have their applications signed by a local Garda or a council official must also provide a medical certificate.

Asked why there was such a tight deadline, a spokesman for the department said local authorities needed the extra time to process applications.

“We can’t actually place the ad in the paper until the Minister signs the polling day order and that was only signed yesterday (Monday) by the Minister.”

“The polling day order is what sets out the time of the poll and when the closing day for nominations is and all the details around the presidential election – until he officially signs it, we can’t put those ads in the paper.”

In response to the suggestion that the notice gave little time to apply, the spokesman said, “people are aware of these deadlines. If someone is entitled to a postal vote and they are interested in voting, they would have applied for that before now.”

“This ad is only for people who I suppose wouldn’t have had time and have been caught out and they should be in a very small minority.”

Eamon Timmons of Age Action Ireland said while those in the nursing home sector were likely to be aware of the postal vote deadlines, older people in the community were less likely to be aware.

“People who are housebound particularly since the last election would be the big losers in this,” he said. “We know from past experience that over 80 per cent of older people vote, they are the mostly likely people to vote in an election and we would hope they wouldn’t be disenfranchised by this.”

UCD students’ union president Pat de Brún said the postal vote deadline was “totally unrealistic.”

“To give students just 48 hours to get the forms completed is ridiculous. Many students are still working in summer jobs or unable to get to their colleges in time and will be unable to get the relevant documentation filled out for tomorrow’s deadline,” he said.

“Students are already disenfranchised by holding the election on a Thursday and now the Government wishes to exclude all students from getting a postal vote. It’s unconstitutional and completely discriminatory.”