THE LABOUR Party has called for the setting up of an Oireachtas committee to consider the future of the State’s electronic voting machines, as it emerged that they are unlikely to be in working order for next year’s European and local elections.
Minister for the Environment John Gormley recently told the Dáil that he was conscious of the extensive work inherent in the recommendations of the commission on electronic voting, including the replacement of the election management software, as well as the adaptations to the equipment and further end-to-end testing.
“At the very least, it will be problematic to envisage use of the current e-voting scheme at the European and local elections in 2009,’’ he added.
Labour’s Cork South Central TD Ciarán Lynch, who challenged Mr Gormley on the issue in the Dáil, said yesterday that an Oireachtas committee hearing was now the only way forward.
“Electronic voting was set up to improve the efficiency of the electoral administration, create minimum maintenance for the pre-election, election and post-election periods, and support the positive image in the country of electronic information,’’ Mr Lynch added.
“On those three fronts, electronic voting has failed.’’
Mr Gormley has revealed that the total cost incurred to date in the development and roll-out of the system was €51.3 million, “including some €2.6 million in respect of awareness and education initiatives’’.
He said information provided by returning officers to his department indicated the annual storage costs in respect of e-voting machines and ancillary equipment last year was €489,000, with figures for the previous three years of €658,000, €696,000 and €706,000 respectively.
“Costs incurred to date in respect of the movement of the electronic voting equipment to centralised storage arrangements are some €328,000,’’ he added.
“Further costs will be incurred in respect of the completion of these arrangements, including buy-out costs.’’
Mr Gormley said that he was considering the next steps to be taken in relation to the project.
“In all of this, I am taking into account the work of the commission on electronic voting which has examined the system, relevant experiences and developments internationally and the need to maintain public confidence in the electoral process, as well as the provisions in the Programme for Government relating to electoral reform generally,’’ he added.
Mr Gormley said he had a predisposition to caution but would weigh up all the options involved. “If I find that the cost is prohibitive and, in particular, that we cannot get public confidence in the system, I will have to look at that very carefully and make a decision on that basis,’’ he added.