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 votingbr 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.