Council boss fields criticism over flaws in electoral register

“THE PROBLEM is we are not psychic,” responded chief executive of Carlow County Council Coilín O’Reilly as he fielded criticism about the county’s electoral register.

The matter was raised by cllr Fintan Phelan, who stated that all were aware there are issues with the current register, but he described a plan to use PPS numbers and Eircodes into the future as “a progressive step forward” that will resolve the issue. “We have an extremely efficient corporate services department here in the council who look after the register and I think it’s important that we remain cautious about removing people from the register,” stated cllr Phelan.

Cllr Ben Ward accepted that every other county in the country has problems with the register but added that with the next electoral cycle “a while away”, it was now fundamental to our democracy to ensure the register was accurate. He suggested that having an electoral register that wasn’t accurate led to issues of credibility.

Cllr Will Paton took exception to the suggestion that “there was some sort of credibility issue” regarding the register, pointing out that these issues were historic. “It is up to every single individual who cares about the ability to vote to check the register … but most people don’t,” said cllr Paton.

He added that if family members died, they should be removed from the register, adding that it was something he had to do in relation to his own late father.

Mr O’Reilly said it was “not a surprise to anyone” that there were inaccuracies in the electoral register, adding that in a county with a population of about 60,000, to have 49,000 on the register when there are 20,000 kids, then “the figures just don’t add up”.

“The problem is we are not psychic, so when someone dies and it’s, say, Jim Murphy from Leighlinbridge, do you take that person off the register? Is it the right Jim Murphy? Then we get to a local election and people are on saying such and such is not registered.

“If there is any doubt, we leave people on, but the PPS number will sort that out,” he assured members.

“The current system is ineffective; there’s not one county in the country where the register was right,” said Mr O’Reilly.

Cllr Ward clarified that he was not suggesting there was a credibility issue with the election result or how the election was run, but pointed out that an independent report had identified issues with the register.

However, cllr Brian O’Donoghue remarked that there “absolutely is a credibility issue”, adding that an inaccurate electoral figure means the turnout figure at the election is inaccurate.

Cllr Phelan described it as “outrageous” the suggestion by some councillors that people be removed from the register.

“If a person appears four times, that can be worked on, but to remove people from the register and remove their right to vote is extremely serious,” he said.