Accessibility and canvassing near polling stations among issues highlighted with June elections
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Shortcomings in the way the local and European elections were held in June have been highlighted by Ireland’s elections watchdog, pinpointing failures around accessibility for people with disabilities and canvassing near polling stations.
The Electoral Commission, An Coimisiún Toghcháin, said that while improvements had been made since the referendums in March, “significant structural issues” were unlikely to have been remedied in such a short space of time.
“On a national level, the levels of signage remained relatively poor,” the report said.
“There continued to be a shortage of parking facilities in urban areas, insufficient designated parking spaces for electors with disabilities and hazards such as steps and obstacles at building entrance points to polling stations.”
A similar report, the first of its kind in Ireland, was published after the March referendums.
This time around, the commission noted that one in five (21%) of 78 polling stations it visited had entrances not easily accessible for independent access by wheelchair users despite its view that wheelchair ramps should be available “wherever needed”.
“An Coimisiún is aware that returning officers do not receive funds to support any refurbishment works,” the report said.
“The returning officers must therefore balance the need to make all polling stations wheelchair accessible with the requirement to allow electors to vote in their own parish/locality and minimise travel or driving requirements.”
Its observers also encountered leafleting or election posters within 50 metres in over a quarter of polling stations visited.
While this is against the law, the commission said its enquiries highlighted that “there is a lack of clarity and inconsistency as to who is responsible for removing posters and enforcing the rules”. It said this will be kept under review.
Concerns were also raised about the lack of privacy when voting by some members of the public.
One voter in Galway said: “After presenting my ID, I was directed to the voting booth. It was not a voting booth.
“It was a child’s school desk out in the open with no privacy or attempt to give privacy, positioned to the right of an open internal door. At least four people went past my desk exiting or entering the room. It was not private.”
The report made several recommendations, including ensuring wheelchair ramps are available wherever physical conditions at a polling station so require and are clearly signposted.
Its chair Ms Justice Marie Baker said: “The issues observed in certain polling stations raise concerns about the ability of some voters to fully participate in the democratic process.
“In particular, I find it worrying that certain polling stations which had not been declared as inaccessible ahead of the elections were observed to exhibit potential obstacles for voters with disabilities.”
The Electoral Commission added that it would be compiling a similar report on the November General Election, including the experience of voters with disabilities.