HC Deb 24 March 1899 vol 69 cc333-4
MR. DILLON

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Local Government Board have decided that candidates for district or county councillor ships in Ire- land cannot act as polling agents; and, if so, for what reason this decision has been arrived at?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

The Local Government Board have held that candidates should not be polling agents, but may be present at the counting of the votes if they do not appoint a counting agent. The Board fear that undue influence might be exercised upon the voters within the polling booths, especially upon illiterate voters, if candidates were admitted. The large number of candidates at each polling place would accentuate the objection to admitting them. The exclusion of candidates from the booths at the municipal elections appears to have given satisfaction throughout the country, except to the candidates themselves.