Ahern admits fraud potential of faulty electoral register
The electoral system could be open to voter fraud if the register is not properly updated before the next General Election, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern tonight told the Dáil.
It emerged yesterday that 17,000 people eligible to vote in the Dublin South-East constituency were not registered and a further 15,000 people who have died or moved from the area were still on the register.
Mr Ahern told TDs that local authority officials and Census enumerators would have to go door-to-door to update the Electoral Register.
“I am afraid it will have to be a shank’s mare exercise, which is the only way we will get a good register,” he said.
“We need to take on that challenge this year. Otherwise, with far too many people on the register, it is open to voter fraud.
The Taoiseach said that controls would be stepped up at polling stations at the next General Election.
He said there were houses in his own constituency where up to 80 people were registered.
It is very important that the register campaign starts early.”
He added: “The best way of doing that is to get people to go out and check the register. The best way, as was the case with the Census, is by putting people on the street to do it.
That is how the system has worked since the foundation of the state. There will not be any other system.”
Mr Ahern estimated that there were approximately 30,000 deaths each year and those names should be removed from the register.
“Obviously if they are not, and have not been, in a few years it builds up to sizeable numbers,” he said.
Mr Ahern said new arrangements to delete the names of deceased persons are now in place. The new system allows for the efficient and timely deletion of the names of deceased persons from the register.
There is also an on-line register search facility available for people to check if they are on the register.
Labour leader Rabbitte claimed that there could be as many as 800,000 inaccuracies in the 2 million-voter electorate.
He added: “The Taoiseach spent Easter paying homage to the founders of the state. He is now administering a state where we cannot even have the right to vote, although he admits that he provides for the dead generations to vote. How are we supposed to take this seriously?”
The Labour Party TD said Environment Minister Dick Roche should not be blaming local authorities as the responsibility rested with his department.
Mr Ahern replied that the Electoral Acts give powers to Mr Roche who then delegates them to the local authorities.
He said there was strong legislation to prevent abuses of the electoral system.
He added: “The law is already there and it is a matter of presiding officers and personation agents implementing it. They must challenge people and demand information.”
