Candidates deploy 'impersonation agents' to check veracity of people voting in Limerick

ELECTION agents have been deployed to polling stations across Limerick to seek photographic voter identification.

Some 16 people have been sent to a number of locations, mainly in the City West area, after what's been described as "mass numbers" joined the electoral roll in this particular constituency, which encompasses much of Limerick city centre.

Here, and across the city and county, voting is taking place in the local council and European elections alongside the historic first contest to become directly elected mayor of Limerick.

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Under electoral law, every election candidate is entitled to appoint an election agent to each polling station.

Colloquially known as 'impersonation agents', they are entitled to ask the presiding officer, the person in charge of the voting station, to seek photographic identification from each voter as they come in to vote.

One person who has ordered these personnel to go out - who we are not naming - said: "From studying the electoral register, we noticed mass numbers have been registered as electors in recent months in these areas. We are very conscious everyone is entitled to vote. The government has advised people, as they go to vote, that they bring some photo ID with them. All we are trying to do is enforce that."

Voters can be asked to provide photographic identification at a polling station - but often this does not happen.
The agents are focused around the city centre polling stations at Presentation Convent in Sexton Street, St Michael's National School in Pery Square, plus Ballybrown National School.

Limerick Live understands already one in four people who have arrived to vote at St Michael's National School have been requested to provide photo identification.

"The level of interest in Limerick in this election is phenomenal. It borders on a degree of jealousy around the country," the agent added, referring to the mayoral election.

There is no suggestion of any impropriety in this set of elections, but in the past, there has been evidence of voter fraud around the country, which gardai have investigated.

Elsewhere this Friday lunchtime, turnout in the elections is reported as running at around the 10% mark on average.

In Caherconlish, it was reported as being "quite slow". Across in Glenroe, however, there was a 16% turnout.

There was a 14% turnout so far in Kilfinane, with a polling officer there saying: "It will trickle from now and then get busy from 4pm or 5pm up until about 8pm."

In the city, turnout at St Paul's in Dooradoyle was at 11%, with a 12% turnout reported at Caherdavin Girls School on the northside. At St Brigid's at Singland Road in the city, 11% of those eligible had voted by 12.30pm.

One officer there said: "It's been quiet but expect it to get very busy in the evening time when people finish work."

The Gaelscoil in Castletroy is running at a 10% turnout.

As of 11am, turnout at Corpus Christi School in Moyross on the city's northside was around 5%.

Polling continues until 10pm this Friday, with the count taking place from Saturday morning in the Limerick Racecourse at Patrickswell.

Limerick Live will be providing extensive coverage online across the weekend, including a dedicated live blog on our web site, www.limericklive.ie

(Reporting of turnouts from Frances Fitzpatrick, Rebecca Laffan, Sandra Quinn, Abbie Hayden, Rebecca Laffan and Manon Gilbart)