Cork councillors call for check on number of deceased people on the electoral register

THE electoral register is in a shocking state, with a large number of deceased people being entitled to vote while new residents have no vote, a Cape Clear electoral worker told West Cork councillor Chris Heinhold following Friday’s referendums.

The Bantry-based Social Democrat councillor raised the matter during any other business at Monday’s council meeting and said that the same worker had contacted the Franchise Office after the last election.

“This is something we need to get a handle on quickly, obviously,” said Cllr Heinhold.

Cllr Karen Coakley, a West Cork Municipal District independent councillor, said that she was aware of a number of deceased people who were issued with polling cards. “It’s so upsetting for families”, she said.

Cllr Kevin Murphy, a Fine Gael representative in the Bandon/Kinsale MD said that he had received a number of complaints about what he said were the ‘number of people who were on RIP.ie for several years and they’re still on the register’.

Cllr Marcia D’Alton, an Independent councillor in Carrigaline MD, said that she had been contacted by a household with four voters.

“Two got polling cards while the other two didn’t and when the four of them, who had been living there for more than 20 years, went down to the polling station, just one of the four was on the register.

“One of the two who got a polling card wasn’t on the register, three of the four had voted before while the fourth was a new voter.”