Electoral Act, 1963

Presiding officers and poll clerks.

68.—The following section is hereby substituted for section 18 of the Principal Act:

“18. (1) The local returning officer shall appoint a presiding officer to preside at each polling station and also, if he thinks fit, a clerk or clerks to assist each presiding officer.

(2) The local returning officer shall not appoint as presiding officer or poll clerk any person if he is himself aware or it is shown to his satisfaction that the person has been actively associated in furthering any particular result at the referendum.

(3) The local returning officer shall, on request, permit any member of Dáil Éireann or Seanad Éireann, or any personation agent, to inspect the list of persons to whom he has offered or proposes to offer appointments as presiding officers or poll clerks.

(4) A presiding officer shall keep order at his station, regulate the number of electors to be admitted at a time and shall exclude all other persons except the clerks, the personation agents (if any) appointed for his polling station, companions of electors whose sight is so impaired or who are otherwise so physically incapacitated that they are unable to vote without assistance while such companions are assisting such electors, and members of the Garda Síochána on duty.

(5) The presiding officer may do, by a clerk appointed to assist him, any act which he is required or authorised to do by this Act, except ordering the arrest, exclusion or ejection from the polling station of any person.”