How to register to vote

The register of Electors

The first stop for registering to vote in Ireland is the Register of electors. This is essentially a list of voters in each area and is compiled by each local authority such as a county council. In order to be eligible to vote, your name must be published on this list along with your address and your polling station.

The question that now arises of course is how to get your name on the register. This can be done simply by filling out an application form RFA which can be picked up from your local authority. The application form must be filled in with all details mentioned above along with your nationality and returned to your local authority.  The register of electors is published each year on November 1^st. 

If the details you have submitted to be recorded on the register change, or indeed if another name needs to be added to the register for example if another member of the household becomes of age to vote it is important to make this change. 

This amendment process is a simple one and is completed by filling out another application form; form RFA1. The form can be acquired from your local post office, library or local authority and it is the latter to which the completed form must be returned. It is important to note also that any amendments or additions to the register can only be done up until the 25^th of November each year. 

Furthermore it is worthy to point out that if it is your home address that has changed it is important to submit not only your new address on the application form but also to reiterate your old address so that you can be removed from the register in your prior area of address.  The amended register is published on February 1^st every year and comes into force on February 15^th. 

All is not lost however even if your name is not on the register of electors by February 15^th it is still possible to make an application to be included in a supplement to the register by means of a  form RFA2.

 

This application can be made at any time, however if wish for the supplement to be used at an election your completed application form RFA2 must be submitted to your local authority not less than 15 working days prior to polling day. An RFA3 application form becomes applicable where one wants to be included on the supplement due to a change of address. Completion of this form will also ensure that you are removed from your previous voting area. 

Two versions of the register of electors are published each year. These include the full register and the edited register. The former can be used only for electoral or other statutory purposes. The latter however can be used for other purposes for example for direct marketing use. Your details can only be used in such a manner however if one has so indicated on their registration form. If you do not wish for your details to be used it is imperative that you tick the “opt out” box provided on the registration form. If this box is not ticked it will be assumed that your details are to be included on the edited register. 

Who can Vote?

Eligibility to vote depends on the type of citizenship you have. Irish citizens are essentially free from any restrictions and can vote in every election; local, European and indeed any referendum. EU citizens can vote at European and local elections no matter what country they are living are in. 

If however you are an EU citizen who is not either Irish or British and you were not previously registered to vote in past European elections in Ireland then you will be required to fill in an application form for the right to so vote. Essentially this form is more of a declaration and is called a form EP1. It is available from your local authority, library and or post office but it is the former only to which it can be returned on completion. This form will ensure that double voting does not occur and furthermore will register you to vote in the constituency in which you are now living. The local authority will also inform the member state from which you came.  

Eligibility for inclusion on the register

Two main requirements must be satisfied in order to be eligible to be included on the register of electors:

• You must be 18 years of age by the day the register comes into force
• You must also have been ordinarily resident in the state on September 1^st  in the year preceding the coming into force of the register  

Important for students

If you are a student living away from home then you have a choice as to where you wish to be registered, that is your home address or the address of your student accommodation. It is important to note that you can only be registered to vote at one address and you must be living at this address on September 1^st before the register comes into force.

The Postal Vote: how it works and who is eligible?

Those who can vote by means of the postal vote are a small category of persons. These include:

·         An Irish diplomat or his/her spouse posted abroad

·         A member of the Gardaí

·         Whole time member of the Defence Forces

However if there are special circumstances preventing you from attending the postal office then you may be granted eligibility for the postal vote. Such special circumstances include:

·         If  you are suffering from a physical illness or have a physical disability which prevents you from attending

·         If you are a student studying in an educational institution in Ireland which is away from the address where you are registered to vote

·         If you are in prison as a result of a court order and as such cannot get access to the polling station

If you wish to be included on the Postal Voters List then you must fill out the relevant application form which is available from your local authority, library or post office.

It is important to note here that there is a deadline by which you must have applied for inclusion on the postal voters list and this is November 25^th. Furthermore if you are granted eligibility to vote by means of the postal vote then you can no longer vote at a polling station.

Special Voters List

Along with the Postal Voters List there too exists the Special Voters List. This is applicable to those who are resident in hospitals, nursing homes and the like who wish or have to vote onsite rather than coming to the local polling station. Again inclusion on the list requires completion of an application form which is available from your local authority and must be accompanied by a medical certificate in order to be eligible. 

A Special note on how to apply

Application forms for any of the above are available from your local authority, post office and library or can also be accessed online on www.checktheregister.ie however completed forms must only be returned to your local authority and none of the others. 

Maeve Kelly. GCD FLAC.