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Saw a bible at your polling station? Here's why

Not everyone is happy about the situation.

SOME PEOPLE WERE a bit confused when they spotted Bibles at polling centres when they went to cast their votes today.

Shutterstock-248700502 Shutterstock Shutterstock

Several voters thought it was inappropriate for Bibles to be present, given the Catholic Church’s call for a No vote in the same-sex marriage referendum. (Like most groups, they’ve been less vocal on lowering the minimum age of presidential candidates…)

Meanwhile, Eoin dealt with the issue in his own way:

The Referendum Commission has taken to Twitter to clear things up, after getting clarification from the Department of the Environment.

The Bibles are indeed there for people to swear confirmation of identity, if they show up to vote without ID or a polling card.

It’s provided for under Section 111 of the Electoral Act 1992, which states:

The returning officer or presiding officer may, and if so required by a personation agent present in the polling station shall, administer to any person when he applies for a ballot paper, but not afterwards, an oath or (in the case of any person who objects to taking an oath on the ground that he has no religious belief or that the taking of an oath is contrary to his religious belief) an affirmation in the following form:

“I swear by Almighty God (or — do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm — as the case may be) that I am the same person as the person whose name appears as AB on the register of Dáil electors now in force for the constitutency of……….and that I have not already voted at this election, and that I had attained the age of eighteen years on……….(date of coming into force of the register)”;

And if such person refuses to take the oath or make the affirmation he shall not be permitted to vote.

So now we know.

Liveblog: All the latest news on the same-sex and presidential age referendums

No selfies or badges: What you need to know before you vote today

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    Mute Catherine Handley
    Favourite Catherine Handley
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    Nov 16th 2011, 4:48 PM

    I received my email from apple requesting my iPod Nano and have gone through the steps for a replacement. I’m an apple nerd anyway but I am very impressed that they will replace my iPod that is 6 years old!

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    Mute John Needham
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    Nov 16th 2011, 5:01 PM

    They dont really have much choice, if there was a dangerous fault in the original device they are still responsible.

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    Mute Brian Kelleher
    Favourite Brian Kelleher
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    Nov 21st 2011, 9:51 PM

    So you’re happy that it only took them six years to admit fault and recall a product that’s known to burst into flames? Yeah, woo! Go Apple!

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    Mute Seán Kearns
    Favourite Seán Kearns
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    Nov 16th 2011, 5:39 PM

    Anyone got a clue as to what type of replacement we’d be getting? And I’m gonna be without my iPod for a few weeks now because that was my only one since my last one got stolen.

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    Mute Aaron Hastings
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    Nov 17th 2011, 10:18 AM

    The replacement will be another first gen apparently. Someone on another site called Apple and that’s what he was told.

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    Mute Cormac Flanagan
    Favourite Cormac Flanagan
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    Nov 16th 2011, 5:36 PM

    How do I go about sending mine back does anyone know.

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    Mute Seán Kearns
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    Nov 16th 2011, 5:37 PM

    There’s a link there in the article i think. You’ll have to create an apple id if you haven’t one already.

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    Mute Paul Gallagher
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    Nov 16th 2011, 8:02 PM

    Old

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    Mute Graham Mace
    Favourite Graham Mace
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    Nov 16th 2011, 6:42 PM

    That’s what they mean by “assault and battery” is it? More like “arson and battery”. I had a Apple replacement battery for my G4 MacBook . Seems batteries are a bit of a problem for Apple. Fair play to Apple, they do own up if they’ve sold you a dud but it can’t help the brand. A lot of people think it won’t last now Steve Jobs is gone,

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    Mute Keith Tracey
    Favourite Keith Tracey
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    Nov 17th 2011, 3:29 AM

    Strange that out of the 60 million that sold six years ago there hasn’t been any reports of iPod nanos causing any fires yet! Still better safe than sorry apple!

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