Sinn Fein raises concerns over electoral register

West Tyrone Sinn Féin MP Pat Doherty has said that the Irish government is set to raise concerns over what he described as "the disenfranchisement of a large section of the six-county electorate," at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference later this month.

Mr Doherty wrote to Mr Ahern on the January 23 calling for the Taoiseach to raise concerns that many entitled voters are not being registered under the new electoral register measures. Mr Doherty said that the measures – which are designed to curb electoral fraud – are "stacked against those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, the unemployed and new voters".

Mr Doherty said that, following a response to that letter, the issue will now be officially raised by Minister Brian Cowen with British Secretary of State Paul Murphy at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference.

Elsewhere, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams met with Chief Electoral Officer Denis Stanley this morning.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Mr Adams said: "The legislation on voter registration has wiped tens of thousands of people off the register. This affects every political party, but the areas and people most affected are those where Sinn Fein is strongest. Nationalist, working class and particularly young voters are being disenfranchised.

"This is an issue of democratic rights. Every political party should be concerned about the fact that people are being disenfranchised. It is my very firm view that the motivation behind this legislation is designed to limit Sinn Fein's growth as a political party.

He went on to blame "British securocrats" of engaging in anti-Sinn Fein propaganda over the issue.

It has been estimated that up to 130,000 names which appeared on the electoral register for the last general election have subsequently been removed as a result of the anti-fraud legislation.

(GMcG)