Vote fraud allegation comes as no surprise

I WAS not surprised at the news of voting fraud alleged to have happened in the Thurles area in the recent local elections.

I put a motion to Cork county council (passed at a meeting in October 2003) requesting the then minister for the Environment, Martin Cullen, to ensure that photographic ID be mandatory for all future elections in this country.

However, he saw fit to refuse the request stating that systems in place were adequate.

My proposal arose from personal experience of an incident of attempted fraud on polling day in the 2002 general election.

Following concerns regarding the Thurles electoral area I am resubmitting the motion in the hope that the new minister, Dick Roche, will adopt this simple proposal to ensure the integrity of our democratic process.

Health warning: the introduction of mandatory photographic ID could cost some public representatives their seats. Sure, how bad.

Cllr Gerry Kelly

County Hall

Cork