Election Register problems

A significant number of people who went to cast their votes in Kilcullen yesterday found that they had been struck off the Register of Electors.

They included complete families, several of them multi-generational Kilcullen people. At least two dozen such electors were disappointed when they went to exercise their franchise. Among thom was 83-year-old Brigie Burke in Melon Hill, who found she wasn't on the Register when her son Kevin brought her to vote.

"She has lived in Kilcullen since 1957 and has always exercised her right to vote," her daughter Bernie told the Diary. "In fact, we were always taught that it was our duty to vote.

"She has listened to many of the various political debates over the past few weeks. When Kevin brought her in to vote she was quite upset -- as she says herself it might have been her last time to vote!"

The issue of people being deleted from the Register was strongly highlighted last November during a review to update the list of those eligible to vote. At the time people all over the country complained that the 12 million euros exercise had arbitrarily cut them from the list, though environment minister Dick Roche subsequently hailed it as a success.

The Diary understands that some people who complained to Kildare County Council after finding their names deleted were 'written in' to the Register. At the time of writing it hasn't been possible to clarify with the Council how this was done, but we will follow it up.

Meanwhile, a late check last evening suggested that the percentage turnout in Kilcullen was in the low 60s. In all, some 2,200 people were eligible to vote in the polling station at Scoil Bhride.

Pictured are the last voters to cast their ballots just before the 10.30pm closedown, Maura Byrne and Brendan Duffy.

Brian Byrne.