The Elections and Boundaries Commission says that it received legal advice that requiring "applicants for the position of Returning Officer to declare whether they are a member of a political party" is "both advisable and lawful."<br /><br />The EBC also says that legal opinion "distinguishes between declaring whether one is a member of a political party and disclosing voting<br />preferences, which is protected by the principle of secret ballot."<br /><br />However, the EBC says quote, "recent media reports suggesting that the EBC is asking Returning Officers to declare their political allegiance are misleading and inaccurate."<br /><br />Juhel Browne reports.
