Candidates should not have to disclose home addresses

• Government votes against enabling key protection for election candidates

Labour leader Ivana Bacik has said it is a retrograde step for Government to vote down Labour amendments which sought to introduce protections for election candidates.

The Labour Party put forward amendments to the Electoral Act today to ensure that candidates in Council and General elections would not have to publish their home addresses.

Deputy Bacik said:

“The new Electoral Commission should have the power to change rules around the need for candidates to disclose a specific home or postal address on ballot papers. We are disappointed that Government decided to vote against this much needed measure.

“We need to encourage more people into politics and to address the barriers that prevent people from entering electoral politics.

“Unfortunately, due to the failure of this Government to tackle the far right and to ensure sufficient safeguards to protect the safety of those who wish to put themselves forward for public office, we know that potential candidates for all parties are fearful of putting their home addresses into the public record. Who could blame them?

“The publishing of postal or home addresses is a huge issue often raised by prospective candidates, particularly women candidates. They are afraid that having this information made publicly available may leave them vulnerable in their homes, and we know that this has been raised in other jurisdictions too.

“It is very disappointing to see Government voting against provisions seeking to create greater safety and security for potential political candidates.”