Newry Armagh Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Sinn Féin Councillor Paul Corrigan Asks People to Ensure they are Registered for Voting

Published: 22 February, 2009

Armagh Sinn Féin Councillor for the Orchard Ward, Councillor Paul Corrigan, is asking people to ensure that they are properly registered for voting. Speaking about voter registration, Councillor Paul Corrigan stated, "With the forthcoming European Elections on the horizon and the Westminister Elections next year, followed then by the local council elections, people need to ensure they are properly registered to vote and that they have the proper up to date identification that is needed at the polling stations. "Electoral registration and ensuring that people are properly registered is an ongoing, work in progress issue, not only within our own Cumann based in the Orchard Ward and the other six Cumainn within the Armagh City & District Council Area, but also within each Sinn Féin Cumann throughout Ireland. "Even a simple mistake, easily made, such as completing a registration form in blue ink, instead of black, can lead to a person being unregistered and unable to vote. People who have completed the registration form properly are also being denied their place on the register and their right to vote without explanation. "Over the coming months, Sinn Féin acitivists will be concentrating a lot of their time and effort towards voter registration, speaking with people on the doorsteps, ensuring that people are fully aware of the registration process and the type of identification needed for polling day. But it is also important to make people aware of the fact that even though the Electoral Office has access to information such as deaths, when a person turns eighteen, NIHE databases etc. the Electoral Office seems intent on ensuring that the whole registration process is as complicated as possible and seems intent on denying thousands of people their right to vote. The Electoral Office is accountable to and funded by the NIO. It is not an independent body and the motives behind the registration process are questionable." Councillor Paul corrigan concluded by saying, "Sinn Féin elected representatives have been meeting on many occasions with representatives from the Electoral Office and will continue to do so, until we have a simple, straight forward voter registration system in place and that everyone is given their right to vote