Up to 700,000 young people aged 18-29 in Ireland are eligible to vote, but some are not on the electoral register and unable to vote if an election or referendum is held. This means that young people’s voices are not being heard on issues of national importance. Registering to vote for the first time is quick and easy – see our FAQ below about getting your vote.

How do I register to vote for the first time?

You can register to vote, online, at any time.

Simply go to www.checktheregister.ie and complete your details in order to be added to the electoral register.

Remember: you’ll need to provide your PPSN, date of birth and Eircode (so that your local authority can confirm your details).

I’M NOT SURE IF I’M REGISTERED OR NOT, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Use the site www.checktheregister.ie to see if you’re on the electoral register.

THERE’S AN ELECTION COMING UP SOON AND I’M NOT REGISTERED, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Simply go to www.checktheregister.ie and complete your details in order to be added to the electoral register. You can register to vote at any time up to 15 days before an election or referendum so make sure you register to vote ahead of that deadline.

Note: Your application must be received by the local authority at least 15 days before an election or referendum (excluding Sundays, Good Friday and public holidays). If it is received on or after 14 days before an election or referendum is taking place, you will not be registered to vote in that election or referendum.

DO I HAVE TO PROVIDE MY PPSN?

The easiest way for you to register to vote or update your details is by applying online and to do this you are required to supply your PPSN (Personal Public Service Number). But if you do not have a PPSN, or do not want to share it, you can download and print a form and have it witnessed or certified when you bring photo ID to your local Garda Station or your local authority. For more on this see the ‘Forms’ section of https://www.checktheregister.ie/en-IE/forms

This section details other ways to register or update your details if you

  •  don’t have a PPSN or don’t want to share it
  •  want to update your citizenship
  •  want to apply for a special or postal vote
  •  want to apply to be an anonymous elector.
  •  want to make a third party request for a change to the register

SHOULD I JUST WAIT UNTIL AN ELECTION/REFERENDUM IS CALLED AND APPLY FOR INCLUSION IN THE SUPPLEMENTARY REGISTER?

We would strongly advise all those eligible to vote but not on the electoral register to apply for inclusion as soon as you can.

The new electoral registration system introduced continuous registration – this means that the same process is in place all year round and you can register to vote at any time up to 15 days before an election or referendum.

So you risk missing the deadline before an election/referendum which you want to vote in if you wait until after it is called.

Note: Your application must be received by the local authority at least 15 days before an election or referendum (excluding Sundays, Good Friday and public holidays). If it is received on or after 14 days before an election or referendum is taking place, you will not be registered to vote in that election or referendum.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M ELIGIBLE TO VOTE?

There are slightly different rules for different kinds of elections.

You can vote in the general elections if you are:

  • Over 18
  • An Irish citizen
  • A British citizen living in Ireland

You can vote in a referendum if you are:

  • Over 18
  • An Irish citizen

You can vote in the local elections if you are:

  • Over 18
  • An Irish citizen
  • A British citizen living in Ireland
  • An EU citizen living in Ireland
  • A non-EU citizen living in Ireland

You can vote in the European Parliament elections if you are:

  • Over 18
  • An Irish citizen
  • An EU citizen living in Ireland (including British citizens)

CAN 16 AND 17 YEAR OLDS REGISTER TO VOTE?

You can pre-register to vote if you are aged 16 or over, but you will not be eligible to vote until you are 18.
By pre-registering at the age of 16, it means that your local authority will be able to move you to the live electoral register when you turn 18.

I HAVE NOT VOTED BEFORE OR HAVE NOT VOTED IN MY CURRENT AREA BEFORE; HOW DO I FIND OUT WHERE TO CAST MY VOTE?

If you are not sure about where your polling station is, you can find your polling station on your local authority’s website or  contact the relevant city/county council and ask for the location of your polling station.

DO I NEED A POLLING CARD TO VOTE AND WHAT FORMS OF I.D. ARE ACCEPTABLE TO BRING TO THE POLLING STATION?

No, you do not need a polling information card to vote. However, you may be asked at the polling station to produce identification before you are given a ballot paper.  If you do not have appropriate identification or the presiding officer is not satisfied that you are the person to whom the identification relates you will not be permitted to vote.

A full list of the acceptable forms of identification are detailed here.

NONE OF THE ABOVE FAQS ANSWERED MY QUESTION

You will find a comprehensive FAQs section on https://www.checktheregister.ie/en-IE/faqs with more questions and answers relating to the new registration process