OFFSHORE BALLOTS:THE FIRST polling stations for the Lisbon Treaty referendum will open today for almost 800 registered voters off the northwest coast.
People on the the five islands of Arranmore, Gola, Inishboffin, Inishfree and Tory will cast their votes in the Donegal South West constituency, with the largest registered island electorate comprising more than 500 voters on Arranmore.
Almost 200 voters on Clare Island, Inishbiggle and Inishturk will vote in the Mayo constituency tomorrow, along with just over 1,000 registered voters on the three Aran Islands and just over 160 on Inishbofin in the Galway West constituency. A total of almost 500 offshore residents on seven west Cork islands have until Friday to make up their minds, with the rest of the State’s electorate.
Island representatives have appealed in recent years for more harmonised voting, given the improved travel links with offshore communities.
However, the Department of the Environment has maintained that returning officers need to be sure weather factors will not hold up the delivery of ballot boxes.
In the last Lisbon treaty referendum, the Aran Island of Inis Oírr voted in favour of the treaty.
However, neighbouring islands Inis Mór and Inis Meáin voted against the treaty.
