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Candidates present at polling stations

  • 26-05-2014 11:14AM
    #1
    grenn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4 ✭


    Does anyone know if a candidate can greet people entering the door of a polling station for many hours during polling day.


Comments

  • #2
    CramCycle
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 25,918 Mod ✭✭✭✭CramCycle


    My understanding was so long as they are not actively canvassing, it is OK. Happened all the time in my local polling station, some candidates would help supporters to the door if they were elderly/infirm etc.

    Personally I think it is inappropriate but the one time it was complained about in my local area, the candidate pointed out that he had been driving up and down elderly neighbours all day and had not asked or talked about which way to vote.

    If you can prove they are canvassing or attempting to influence voters then you can have you local Garda remove them (from memory, although what they would charge them with I do not know).

    My local station used to have several hard core FFs in the ballot room (they were the people who you crossed your name off), one even shouted across the room at me when I was younger that I know which way I should vote.

    TL:DR, so long as they are not canvassing, it is OK I think but IMO, their very presence is a form of canvassing and they should only be allowed to hang around long enough to vote.


  • #3
    Riskymove
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,900 ✭✭✭✭Riskymove


    You cannot canvass within 50 metres

    so, yes, it depends on what you interpet as canvassing


  • #4
    grenn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4 ✭grenn


    Yes, that is a fine line (canvassing or not). I was a poll clerk at this election and after a complaint from a voter I reported it to the supervisor who moved her on but told me that was the second time he had to do that. And sure enough 5 mins later she was back again smiling and greeting people as they entered the school. She was voted in!


  • #5
    CramCycle
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 25,918 Mod ✭✭✭✭CramCycle


    grenn wrote: »
    Yes, that is a fine line (canvassing or not). I was a poll clerk at this election and after a complaint from a voter I reported it to the supervisor who moved her on but told me that was the second time he had to do that. And sure enough 5 mins later she was back again smiling and greeting people as they entered the school. She was voted in!
    He should have contacted the Gardai if he was satisfied she was canvassing.


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