Register of Electors
General Information
In order to be able to vote at an election or referendum, a person’s name must be entered on the register of electors for the locality in which the elector ordinarily resides. Each registration authority is required by law to prepare and publish a Register of Electors every year.
Categories of elector
The Register comprises four categories of electors: Presidential elector, Dáil elector, European elector and Local Government elector. A person’s citizenship determines their category and the type of elections at which they may vote as in the table below:
Citizenship | Category of Elector | Type of Election at which eligible to vote |
|---|---|---|
Irish Citizens |
Presidential |
All elections and referenda |
British Citizens |
Dáil |
Dáil, European and local elections |
Other EU Citizens |
European |
European and local elections |
Non-EU Citizens |
Local Government |
Local Government elections only |
In order to qualify for entry onto the Register, a person must comply with the relevant statutory provisions:
Statutory Provisions
The statutory provisions relating to the qualifications for registration as electors are contained in the Electoral Act 1992 and are summarised as follow:
- 18 years or over on 15th February in the year in which the Register comes into force (i.e. 15th February 2008 to qualify for entry onto the 2008/2009 Register)
- Ordinarily resident in the constituency on the qualifying date (1 September in the year proceeding the year in which the Register comes into force); and
Two Versions of the Register
Since 2004, registration authorities are required to publish two versions of the register – the full register and the edited register.
Register of Electors
The full register lists everyone who is entitled to vote and can only be used for an electoral or other statutory purpose.Edited Register of Electors
The edited register contains the names and addresses of persons whose details can be used for a purpose other than an electoral or other statutory purpose e.g. for direct marketing use by a commercial or other organisation. Every elector is given a choice as to whether they wish to be included or not.
Supplement to the 2008/2009 Register of Electors
If you are not on the 2008/2009 Register of Electors, you can still vote if you are included in the supplement to the register. To be included in the supplement you must be:
- 18 years of age
- ordinarily resident at the address at which you wish to be registered
- not already registered as an elector (except in the case of change of address)*
If you’re not already on the register, you can apply to be included in the supplement by filling out the green form (RFA2) available there and posting or delivering it to the registration authority below.
North Tipperary County Council, Civic Offices, Limerick Road, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary.
* If you are on the register of electors and have moved residence from one constituency to another or within a constituency (different local electoral area) you may also apply for entry to the supplement. A separate form (RFA3) is available from your registration authority for this purpose.
Supplementary Special/Postal Voters List
Postal Voters List
An elector whose name is entered in the Postal Voters List may vote by post only at an election or referendum.The following categories of persons can be registered as Postal Voters:
• Electors with a physical illness who are living at home (Form PVS1)
• Electors who are unable to vote at their polling station, due to circumstances of occupation (Form PVS2)
• Whole-time members of the defence forces. Members who live in military barracks may be registered either at the barracks or at their home address.
• Irish diplomats posted abroad, and their spouses; they are registered at their home address in Ireland.
• Members of the Garda Síochána (Irish police force) have the option of being registered as ordinary electors or as postal voters. In either case, they are registered at their home address.
An elector registered as a postal voter may vote by post only, and may not vote at a polling station.
Special Voters List
In order to qualify for the Special Voters List, an elector must be ordinarily resident at a hospital, nursing home or similar institution and are unable to go in person to vote at a polling station by reason of a physical illness or physical disability. To apply, fill out the application form for entry into the Special Voters List (Form SVS1) Electors on the Special Voters List vote by marking a ballot paper delivered to them by a special presiding officer, accompanied by a Garda.The closing date for postal/special voters to be included in the supplement is 2 days after the dissolution of the Dáil.
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