Senator
Alex White: working for Dublin South
Registering
to vote in Ireland
In order to vote in an election in Ireland, you must be registered
to vote. Being registered to vote means that you can participate
in decision making about who represents you at local government
level, national government level and European government level.
Being registered to vote also means that you can get involved
in decisions about how Ireland is governed by voting in elections
and referenda.
Every local authority in Ireland is responsible for compiling
and publishing a Register of Electors each year for its area.
Anyone can inspect this Register and it is available in all
local authority offices, post offices, Garda stations and
public libraries. There are certain rules in place regarding
who can vote in Ireland. For example, you must be a certain
age and must have been resident in Ireland for a certain length
of time before the Register comes into effect. In addition,
your citizenship will determine in which elections you can
vote in Ireland. This document explains how to register to
vote in Ireland, who can vote in Ireland and how the process
of voting works.
The
Electoral Register
A new Electoral Register is compiled each year and is published
on 1 November. You can inspect the Register or draft Register
during working hours at the offices of the County Council
or the county registrar and at public libraries, post offices
and Garda stations.
You have until 25 November to make a correction or have your
name included on the Register. You may be asked for documents
such as a birth certificate or a certificate of naturalisation
in order to prove your eligibility to vote. The amended Register
of Electors is then published in February of the following
year.
Supplement
to the Electoral Register
If you are qualified to vote but have missed the deadline
to include your name on the Register, you can apply to be
included in a Supplement to the Register, which will allow
you to vote at any election or referendum held during the
year. You can apply for inclusion on the Supplemental Register
at least 13 working days before polling day.
Rules
| • |
Irish citizens can vote in every
election and referendum |
| • |
British citizens may vote at Dáil,
European and local elections |
| • |
Other EU citizens may vote at European and
local elections |
| • |
Non-EU citizens can vote at local elections
only To be eligible to be included in the Register of
Electors, you must: |
| • |
Be at least 18 years of age on the day the
Register comes into force
(15 February) And; |
|
| • |
Have been ordinarily resident in the State
on 1 September in the year preceding the coming into force
of the Register. Irish citizens living abroad cannot vote
in an election or referendum here in Ireland (with the
exception of Irish diplomats (and their spouses) who are
on duty abroad). |
Postal
Voters List
You will normally be required to vote in person at an official
voting centre, however, you may be eligible for a postal vote
if you are a member of the Defence Force, a member of the
Garda Siochana or an Irish diplomat posted abroad or his/her
spouse. You may also be eligible for a postal vote if you
cannot go to a polling station because of a physical illness
or disability or because you are studying full time at an
educational institution away from your home address where
you are registered.
Applications for inclusion on the Postal Voters List must
be received by 25 November at the latest. If you are registered
as a postal voter, you may vote by post only. You may not
vote at a polling station.
Special
Voters List
You may also qualify to be on a Special Voters List for those
who live in hospitals, nursing homes or similar institutions
and who wish to vote at these locations. Applications to be
entered on the Special Voters List must be made by 25 November
and, in the case of a first application, must be accompanied
by a medical certificate. Rates There is no cost associated
with registering to vote in any election in Ireland.
How
to apply
Application forms for inclusion on the Electoral Register,
Special Voters List, Postal Voters List and the amended Electoral
Register are available from all County Councils, Corporations,
post offices and public libraries.
Applications for inclusion on the Electoral Register must
be completed by 25 November.
You can download
an application form for inclusion on the Electoral Register
here (pdf format). Completed forms can be returned
to your County Council or City Council.
Where
to apply
Application forms to register to vote in Ireland are available
at County Councils, Corporations, post offices and public
libraries throughout the country. Contact information for
all County Councils, Corporations, post offices and public
libraries is available in all public telephone directories.
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