Public urged to check they are included on the electoral register

ON Friday, October 26 the public will be asked to cast their vote to decide who will hold the position of Uachtarán na hÉireann for the next seven-years and to have their say on retaining or removing the offence of blasphemy from the constitution.

With polling day looming fast on the horizon the Referendum Commission has urged people eligible to vote to ensure their names are included on the electoral register.

Ahead of the October 9 register to vote deadline, the Commission has embarked on a high-profile radio, online and social media awareness campaign, calling on people to check they are registered to vote.

Commission chair Isobel Kennedy said that while their specific remit only covers the referendum, not being on the electoral register will also prohibit people from voting in both that and the presidential election.

“If people are not sure if they are registered to vote, or if they may not be registered at the correct address, they can find out very easily by checking at www.checktheregister.ie,” said Ms Kennedy.

“People can also check the register in person at local authority offices, post offices, Garda stations and public libraries.”

A draft register is compiled annually, published in November and comes into force the following February 15. To be eligible to vote you must be an Irish citizen aged at least 18-years-old on the day the register came into force and a resident of the State as of September 1, 2017.

If people are not included on the finalised register, they can apply to be included on a supplement by filling out a RFA2 form which can be downloaded from the above website. Those who may have moved home can fill out an RFA3 form for inclusion on the supplement at their new address.

These forms must be stamped at a Garda station for identity certification purposes and returned to Cork County Council within 15-workings days of polling day, in this case by close of business next Tuesday.