Voters complain about lack of privacy

Voters at the general election will not have any more privacy than they did during the referendum, when many felt the assistant electoral commissioners were too near to the booths and could see how they were voting.

Chief electoral commissioner Carmel Degabriele yesterday said the electoral laws forbade anything which hindered the view of the electoral commissioners.

Some voters had suggested there should be a curtain that would allow for privacy and make it impossible for the commissioners to know how they voted.

Mr Degabriele said such a curtain used to exist in the past but it had been removed because people were leaving material in the booth that could influence voters.

Another complaint was that commissioners in some localities were taking notes about who voted yes and no in the referendum.

Mr Degabriele said this was not allowed and steps would be taken if evidence were given to the commission about any infringements.

"Assistant electoral commissioners nominated by the political parties are authorised to take a note of who voted or did not vote - after the polling ends," Mr Degabriele said.