EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/952

(2004/C 84 E/1051)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1136/04

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(15 April 2004)

Subject: Restrictions on the right to vote in European elections in Northern Ireland that have so far disenfranchised 16,5 % of the population because of a complicated system of annual individual voter registration

1. Is the Commission aware that rules in the United States under which people who are entitled to vote cannot do so unless they register to vote on various occasions have effectively disenfranchised a large number of people, primarily those who are on low incomes, less well-educated, or who have a disability or are less familiar with administrative formalities?

2. Does the Commission know that the electoral law in Northern Ireland was changed in May 2002 so that, unlike the rules in other parts of the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic, individual voters are required to re-register before each election, submitting photographs and national insurance documents, and that this has resulted in the numbers on the electoral roll dwindling every year?

3. Does the Commission realise that it is now evident that unless the rules are soon changed soon 211 000 people who are entitled to vote, or 16,5 % of the population of Northern Ireland, will not be able to take part in the forthcoming European Parliament elections?

4. Does the Commission not agree that if the new restrictions are aimed at combating fraud this aim can best be achieved by means of accurate population registers, accurate registration of anyone who is temporarily deprived of the right to vote as a result of a court judgment, with speedy updating of electoral registers and an effective system of checks at polling stations, so that anyone who is entitled to vote can decide whether or not to go to the polls up until the day of the election?

5. Does the Commission have any means, under the agreements between EU Member States concerning elections to the European Parliament which have been in force since 1979 or on any other grounds, of ensuring that restrictions on the right to vote in Northern Ireland will in any case not apply to the next European elections in June? Is it prepared to use the means at its disposal?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2004)

Electoral registration is part of electoral procedures, the regulation of which falls under the responsibility of the Member States. Electoral procedures for national or local elections are thus covered by national legislation. This is also confirmed regarding elections to the Parliament in Article 8 of the 1976 Act (1) as amended by Council Decision 2002/772/EC (2) which provides that electoral procedure shall be governed in each Member State by its national provisions. In conclusion, electoral procedures are not harmonised by Community law, and the Member States are not obliged to inform the Commission about changes in their electoral laws.

(1) Act of 20 September 1976 concerning the election of the representatives of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage, annexed to Decision 76/787/ECSC, OJ L 278, 8.10.1976.

(2) Council Decision 2002/772/EC, Euratom of 25 June and 23 September 2002 amending the Act concerning the election of the representatives of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage, OJ L 283, 21.10.2002.