Voter disruption fears amid polling station errors

Fears have been expressed that thousands of voters in Cork could be disenfranchised after they received incorrect polling station information.

As voters prepare to cast their votes in tomorrow’s referendums, it has emerged that voters in two vast suburban areas — one in the city and one in the county — were sent polling cards directing them to vote in two former gaelscoils which have both closed in recent months.

The Gaelscoil Therese building on Uam Var Ave, Curraheen, and the former Gaelscoil Uí Riordáin building in Coolroe, Ballincollig, served as polling stations for several years.

But Gaelscoil Therese closed in September, while the Gaelscoil Uí Riordáin building closed last year after pupils relocated to a new school in Carriganarra.

However, polling cards were sent to voters in both areas directing them to cast their votes tomorrow in the closed buildings.

Similar problems affecting some 35,000 voters in Dublin emerged yesterday.

An advertisement was placed in Tuesday’s Irish Examiner redirecting voters in Cork South Central to vote at Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh Boys School on Curraheen Rd.

It is understood the city sheriff only became aware of the closed school after the polling cards were printed.

A similar situation occurred in Ballincollig, where voters who were told to cast their vote in Gaelscoil Uí Riordáin have been redirected to Ballincollig Rugby Club in Classis Lake.

It is understood that signs will be put up in the old gaelscoil building informing people of the change.

But Bishopstown-based Sinn Féin city councillor Henry Cremin said he was concerned the errors could cause extreme confusion for voters, and affect turnout.

He spent several hours yesterday putting his own posters in local shops to draw attention to the change.

“It’s just not good enough. There should be an improved form of communication between the various arms of the state involved in elections and referendums to ensure that this kind of error doesn’t happen again,” he said.

Ballincollig-based Fine Gael county councillor Derry Canty said it was a genuine error that emerged after polling cards were printed: “I would apologise for the upset but I would ask people to take note of the new polling station location, and come out and cast their vote.”

Voters are not required to present a polling card but are advised to bring valid ID such as a passport, driver’s licence, Garda ID card or social welfare card.