COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, April 15, 2019

QUESTION NO. 7

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

To ask the Chief Executive if he has had any further contact with the County Sheriff regarding plans for the counting of votes after the May elections? Will he confirm that he has conveyed to the County Sheriff concerns recently expressed by Council Members and will he present an update?

REPLY:

In relation to the forthcoming Local Elections in May the following information is the update in relation to count arrangements.

The European Elections and a referendum shall be taking place in conjunction with the Local Elections. The County Sherriff is responsible for conducting the European Elections and the referendum.  As the ballot papers for both elections and the referendum will be mixed together in ballot boxes, the County Sherriff will have responsibility for the segregation, tally and distribution of the three papers.

(As explained at the Organisation, Procedure and Finance meeting) dialogue has been ongoing between the Dublin Returning Officers for the local elections and the European Returning Officer, regarding these arrangements. The Local Returning Officer only has responsibility for the Count once the ballot are received in the Count Centre in Citywest and preparations for this is ongoing. Any information regarding the count up to that point will have to be made directly with the European Returning Officer. A full update was given at the March Organisation Procedures and Finance Committee.