SDLP member hits out at disability decision

People with Down’s syndrome are being refused the right to register to vote in Northern Ireland despite having voted in the past, it was claimed today.

SDLP Assembly member Patsy McGlone said a constituent with Down’s syndrome had been refused a place on the electoral roll even though he had been on it as recently as the Assembly elections last November and had voted in the past.

“The Electoral Office is now saying that because he has Down’s syndrome he is not entitled to vote.

"This fellow wants to go out and vote with everyone else and I know fine well that he knows who he wants to vote for,” said Mr McGlone.

The Mid- Ulster MLA claimed his constituent was not alone and he knew through fellow Assembly members of hundreds of people across the North who were suddenly in the same position.

He has been in contact with the Equality Commission seeking to challenge the issue under disability legislation and said it could also be a matter for the Human Rights Commission.

“The Electoral Office has made a quite arbitrary decision and I think it is very, very unfair,” said Mr McGlone.

“He is entitled to everything else but the Electoral Office is saying that just because he has Down’s syndrome he is less of a citizen than anyone else and has less of a right to vote.

“I don’t think anyone ought to be allowed to make that sort of decision,” he added.