Politics

Kindle e-reader at Tyrone polling station leads to row between Sinn Féin and SDLP

THE SDLP has reported an alleged breach of electoral rules after the party accused a Sinn Féin election worker of using electronic equipment at a Strabane count centre.

Sinn Féin election agent Barry McColgan said: "One of our election workers was in a polling station early this morning reading a Kindle e-reader.

"He had sought and received permission from the electoral staff on duty to use the e-reader and was openly reading an e-book for two hours.

"For the SDLP to subsequently claim that this amounts to electoral fraud is as spurious as it is pathetic."

An SDLP statement said it had asked the Chief Electoral Officer to act immediately.

"There must be a zero tolerance approach to any breach of the rules that are in place to guarantee fair elections," it said.

Electronic equipment like mobile phones, iPads or Kindles are prohibited.