16 Jan Can I Vote in the General Election? What You Need To Know

Once a General Election is called, often the first question people ask is: “Am I eligible to vote?”

On February 8th, we will have a General Election in Ireland, to elect TDs to the 33rd Dáil.

What is the electoral register?

Being registered to vote means that your name is on one of the following lists:

• The main Register of Electors
• The Postal Voters List
• The Special Voters List
• Or a supplement to one of these three lists

It’s important to note that the 2019-20 Register of Electors and its Supplement will be used in the upcoming general election on 8 February. The 2020-2021 Register comes into effect on 15 February, after the election.

To make sure you are on the 2019-20 Register, go to checktheregister.ie, or contact Mayo County Council (or your local authority).

If you are not on the Register, you can:

• Contact your local authority to check if you are on the Supplement to the 2019-2020. If you are on the Supplement, then you are registered to vote in the general election.
• If you are not on the Supplement, you can register to be included in the Supplement using form RFA2. If you have changed address, use form RFA3.

Deadlines

• Forms must be received by your local authority before close of business on 22 January 2020.
• Forms for the supplements to the Postal Voters and Special Voters Registers must be received by 16 January 2020.

Postal Votes

It is possible to apply for a postal vote, however the deadline is today (16 January 2020) for the upcoming General Election.

You may be eligible for a postal vote if you are:

• An Irish diplomat posted abroad, or their spouse or civil partner who is living abroad with them
• A member of the Garda Síochána
• A whole-time member of the Defence Forces

You may also be eligible for a postal vote if you cannot go to a polling station because:

• You have a physical illness or disability
• You are studying full time at an educational institution in Ireland, which is away from the home address where you are registered
• You cannot vote at your local polling station because of your occupation, service or employment
• You are unable to vote at your polling station because you are in prison as a result of an order of a court

Applications for inclusion on the Postal Voters List must be received by 25 November at the latest. If you miss this deadline, or become eligible to vote by post after 25 November, you can apply to the Supplement to the Postal Voters List.

The latest date for receipt of applications is:

• 2 days after the date of dissolution of the Dáil in the case of a general election
• 2 days after the date of the order appointing polling day in the case of a Dáil bye-election
• 22 days (excluding Sundays and public holidays) before polling day for other elections or referendums

 

If you are eligible to vote, then please use your democratic right on February 8th 2020.