Taoiseach Simon Harris has defended Ireland’s electoral system as transparent and valued, as marathon counting in the local and European elections finally came to a close.
It took six days of counting to fill all 14 seats across three European constituencies.
Our proportional representation system – the single transferable vote – means ballots are counted multiple times by hand as electronic voting or counting systems are not used.
Speaking from Castlebar, Co Mayo overnight, the Fine Gael leader said the PRSTV system does take time, but added the State “values” the transparency it offers.
We won't be told by anyone else how to do our elections
He admitted there may be an issue with the length of the ballot papers.
There were 27 candidates in Midlands–North-West, resulting in a 73cm-long ballot paper.
There were 23 candidates in the Ireland South constituency, which the returning officer said had proved tricky for count staff.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin also said the length of ballot papers may have resulted in people not giving preferences to as many candidates as in previous years.
“I do think there is an issue in terms of the length of a ballot, just in terms of actually layout and design, but that’s not a matter for me,” Mr Harris said.
“We have an independent Electoral Commission here in Ireland now, and it’s a matter for them to consider, but I know certainly when I was voting in my own polling station, even the ballot paper, the length of it, it wasn’t even able to stay on the table.
Referring to Fine Gael candidate Maria Walsh, who was re-elected as an MEP in Midlands–North-West overnight, he added: “Now, ‘Walsh’ is pretty far down the ballot list, they still found her.”
