Calls for mandatory photo ID in elections

THE Government should move immediately to ensure photographic ID is mandatory for all future elections, a prominent county councillor said last night.

Fine Gael’s Gerry Kelly was reacting to the investigation launched by gardaí in Tipperary into vote-rigging in the last local elections.

It is thought as many as 300 ballot papers may have been fraudulently cast in the Tipperary North Riding electoral area, most as a result of personation - where individuals assume identities of others to vote.

Last October, Cork County Council approved a motion tabled by Cllr Kelly calling on then Environment Minister Martin Cullen to ensure anyone seeking a ballot paper on election day was required to produce photo ID.

But it was rejected as he said people could already be asked for ID if voting cards weren’t produced.