A Chara ,
Please be advised I wish to bring to your attention under the 1992 Electoral act the following .
147.—(1) A person shall not interfere with or obstruct or impede an elector going to or coming from or in the vicinity of or in a polling station.(2) During the period commencing 30 minutes before the time appointed for the taking of a poll at an election, including a poll which has been adjourned under section 107 , and ending 30 minutes after the close of the said poll, a person shall not, in or in the curtilage of a polling station or in any place within 100 metres of such station, for the purpose of promoting the interest of a political party or furthering the candidature of a candidate or candidates or soliciting votes for a candidate or candidates or for any contrary purpose, do any or all of the following things:(a) loiter or congregate with other persons;(b) attempt to induce, by any means whatsoever, an elector to vote for a candidate or candidates or vote in a particular way or refrain from voting;(c) display or distribute any notice, sign or poster (other than a notice, sign or poster displayed by the returning officer) or card, circular or other document relating to the election; or(d) use or cause to be used any loud-speaker or other public address mechanism to broadcast matter relating to the election.(3) For the purpose of this section, a polling station shall be deemed to include all parts of the building and any land within the curtilage of the building in which the polling station is situate and the distance referred to in subsection (2) shall be measured from any entrance to the polling station or to the curtilage thereof.(4) A person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an offence.
Tonight I as a registered voter in the Clondalkin ward noticed political flags flying in the courtlage of designated Polling Stations ie Schools .There are European flags flying that could be misconstrued that the Government desire Pro European Votes There are Green Flags awarded to schools that could be understood to support Green Candidates and there are Rainbow flags flying that Could be seen as a pro LGTB + affirmation of certain candidates .
As a registered voter I declare that these flags could and in fact WILL influence my vote therefore they are Political in Nature and contravene the above act .I await your response to my complaint and advise I may go to law to have the result of the ballot nullified if this egregious flag influence is not remedied .
Regards .John Mc Grath .registered voter .