'They have to pay to vote': GP cert cost slammed as unjust by Electoral Commission

Under current requirements, an individual with a disability seeking a postal vote is required to get a GP's sign-off on the request

T he Electoral Commission  chief executive Art O’Leary says data collected by them after the local and European elections in June 2024 showed 23% of voters with a disability opted against casting a ballot due to their disability. File picture

Requiring people with disabilities to pay for doctor certs to get a postal vote is an “unjustifiable barrier” to electoral participation, the Electoral Commission has said.

The Commission has called on the Government to remove the need for people with disabilities to pay for their certification, with chief executive Art O’Leary saying it should be done in advance of the upcoming Presidential elections.