Sinn Féin Councillor Paul Butler said he will be asking the Electoral Commission to investigate the refusal of election officials to issue ballot papers to voters in Lagmore on election day last Thursday.
The news comes after approximately 30 people were turned away at Christ the Redeemer polling station despite the fact that they arrived at the primary school before the 10pm deadline. According to Councillor Butler, after 6pm voters were queuing for up to one hour to cast their votes including those who were eventually turned away at 10pm.
The councillor said he will also explore the possibility of taking a legal case against the Electoral Office on behalf of those who were refused the right to vote.
"I was present last Thursday night when election officials at Christ the Redeemer polling station refused to issue ballot papers to around 30 voters, even though they were inside the polling station. The way the voters in Lagmore were dealt with was totally unacceptable and they should have been given the opportunity to exercise their democratic right in the election."
The councillor went on to brand the situation a "shambles" and condemned the Electoral Office for not being prepared for the huge influx of voters who live in the area.
"It was clear from early on that election officials manning the polling station could not cope with the numbers of people turning up to cast their votes. Long queues of people were forming from after 6pm and it was clear that not everyone would get using their vote before the 10pm deadline.
"I raised my concerns with those in charge of the polling station but evidently they did not have the staff to cope with the situation. They did bring in one extra worker but it was just too little too late. In short, this was a shambles which the Electoral Office did nothing to try to avoid.
"I am very angry that voters in Lagmore were not given the opportunity to exercise their vote and I am asking the Electoral Commission and Denis Stanley of the Electoral Office to investigate this matter. A full investigation should be held and steps should be taken to address this type of problem in future elections," he concluded.
A spokesperson for the Electoral Office told the Andersonstown News: "At the minute Denis Stanley is not making any comments."
