Sinn Féin mislead voters in Wexford with Bogus Ballot Paper

Sinn Féin has distributed a bogus sample ballot paper in advance of the by-election in Wexford.

What Sinn Féin has published as a 'sample ballot' are not sample ballot papers as they have been manipulated and doctored to ensure that the name of one particular candidate, Aontú's Cllr Jim Codd, does not feature.

Section 152 of The Electoral Act 1992 states "that any person who, before or during a Dáil election, makes or publishes any statement which is likely to mislead voters as to the actual process of voting shall be guilty of an offence".

We are currently seeking legal advice as to whether there has been a breach of this law.

According to Peadar Tóibín TD Aontú leader:

“This is very shocking move by Sinn Féin. The issuing of a fake ballot paper in advance of the by-election is an effort to mislead voters. That they would target Aontú and Cllr Jim Codd, a dedicated local representative, is wrong.

"The Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil government have caused so much damage to the people of Wexford in terms of the housing crisis, the hospital crisis, the farm income crisis and the overheating of Dublin to the cost of counties like Wexford. Yet, Sinn Féin let them off the hook and target one of the hardest working elected reps in Wexford, Cllr Jim Codd.

"Given that I was a TD with that party for 8 years, spite and pettiness seems to be the motivation. Misleading voters in this manner seeks to misrepresent and deceive. It is poor politics. The people of Wexford deserve better than this."

The Irish political system is radically broken

In Ireland the vast majority of elected representatives put a finger in the air to check which way the political wind is blowing. They have one eye on their leaders – seeking brownie points – and another eye keeping their seat safe. If elected reps shut up and do as they’re told, they are promoted; if they stand up for what they believe in, they are demoted. No wonder we have the political class we have. No wonder one point one billion euro is being buried in a hole under the National Children’s Hospital and that Stormont is in stalemate.

Throughout Ireland, many people are now afraid to say what they feel, many are afraid to respectfully engage on a range of different topics. Many feel there is a new censorship and a new political correctness in Ireland, that opposition to the establishment is being deleted.

Respectful opposition is not the enemy. Respectful opposition is a critical element of a functional democracy. Aontú will have the backbone to stand up, without fear, for you.