Kiely disputes validity of votes

The Supreme Court will give judgement at a later date on a challenge brought by former senator Dan Kiely against the result of last year’s local elections where he lost out on a seat for Kerry County Council by two votes.

The case centres on whether a 3-4-5 written on a ballot paper in the absence of a number ‘1’ preference marked on the ballot paper can be deemed as a valid vote in an election. The local elections took place on the same day as the elections for the European Parliament.

On days where there are more than one election, the Supreme Court heard many people cast their first and second preference on one ballot paper, before putting their third, fourth and fifth on the other ballot sheet.