Paul Maskey has said the Electoral Office must urgently address concerns regarding changes to where some West Belfast voters will be casting their votes on 12th December.
Paul Maskey said:
“The Electoral Office have made a number of changes to polling stations which are detrimental to voters but they have not communicated these changes adequately to the voters.
“Clonard Youth Club was previously used as a polling station and due to a refurbishment at the time of the local government election, voters went to St Clare’s Primary School. The refurbishments have now finished but voters will continue to vote in St Clare’s on 12th December.
“This makes St Clare’s a ‘four box’ polling station which can become congested and some residents will now actually have to travel further.
“Residents from Hannahstown and the Upper Springfield Road used St Joseph’s Parish Centre in May but are now being referred to St Oliver Plunkett Primary School.
“St Joseph’s had the highest turnout in West Belfast but voters are now having to move.
“We have raised these issues with the Electoral Office but at this stage we can’t see any changes being implemented.
“The Electoral Office have failed in their obligation to simplify this election for those affected. It is a lot harder to get registered to vote here than it is anywhere else on these islands, which is disgraceful.”
