Hundreds of names about to be wiped off Register of Electors in North Tipp Town

The controversy of the voter register is back again from the Nenagh Guardian Hundreds of names about to be wiped off Register of Electors for Newport. Newport is a small town on the Tipperary-Limerick border that has saw a massive increase in population in recent years. Due to its proximity to Limerick City (around 10 miles I think) it has come a popular commuter town. Since the last census the population has increased by 29 percent bring the population to 2,118. This new influx of people has caused problems compiling the register to take account of the new residents.

Director of Corporate Services, North Tipperary County Council, Paddy Heffernan has confirmed that Òserious difficultiesÒ have arisen in relation to the verification of the names of many people in the Newport area and Òthe removal of their names from the Register of Electors is now imminentÒ unless the difficulties are resolved.

He said: ÒIt is the obligation of the County Council to update the Register of Electors and we have been in the process of doing that for some time now. That involves the verification of the names on the register, as people who are living within the particular area and their entitlement to have a vote in elections. Unfortunately we have been experiencing serious difficulties within the Newport area. Newport is a growth area and there are a lot of people in the area whom we have been unable to make contact with.’

He added: ÒUnless we can establish contact with these people within the next couple of weeks, we will be obliged to remove their names from the Register and that will result in major problems for them if they present themselves at a polling booth at election time, because they will not be entitled to vote unless they are registered.’

I can see this problem being replicated through out the country. They have reported that they have had difficulty contacting people in their homes in Newport. The reason for this I guess is that people in these new commuter estates would often spend much of their time outside the town. Either working or socialising this means that they are often not likely to be at home when people call around. This is going to result in hundreds being disenfranchised. I have to wonder how you can delete from a register people you do not know are there but anyway. The solution they offer is thus.

Families or individuals who have taken up residence in the area who wish to have a vote in future elections are advised to check to ensure that they are correctly included in the Register of Electors. The Register of electors can be checked at the local Garda Station, Post Office, or County Council office at Nenagh.

Considering that most of these people are not around to meet the council staff in the evenings the likelihood that they will be in the town at a time when the post office is open or know when the Garda station is occupied is doubtful perhaps a late or weekend service needs to be opened. The register is vitally important and while people might got give a dahm now they may well care more about this at a later date. They should not be deleted now but rather in a few months time when after a number of leaflet drops they know their being dropped. Also they should be told when the register are going to be calling around so that they can insure that they will be in.

But I guess we have to ask the question. Do people want to vote anyway?