All Voter registration questions answered here (if we can)

ballooba

As per the discussion on the feedback forum this is designed to help people get on the register. Mods feel free to edit as much as you like and sticky if you see fit.

Why Vote?
It is important that everyone who can vote does vote. Your vote is effectively the only chance you get to voice your opinion on how the country is run.

A lot of people come on to Boards to discuss issues that effect their lives and the quality of life in their communities. The only way you can ever really influence these things is by excercising the power of your vote.

For this reason I think it is very important to ensure that you are registered to vote and at least receive your ballot papers. I also think it's important for people who have elderly or ill relatives to ensure that they get their vote.

First of all check if you are already registered:
List of Electoral Register Checkers just find the link for your local authority at that page.

Note: A new integrated eReg system is expected in Nov 2006. But don't hold your breath, for now it is broken down by local authority.

[edit] Here it is: http://www.checktheregister.ie/ [/edit]

If your details are correct then happy days, you should receive your ballot papers as expected, otherwise you'll need to have it update or get your self included.

If you need to register to vote you can check out this article on Oasis.
Registering to Vote

For information on correcting your details you can look here:
General Information on Register of Electors

Villain

Excellent post, how about making it a sticky for a while?

oscarBravo

Stuck. This is a thread I'd like to see stay firmly on-topic. If I see off-topic waffle here, I'll move or delete posts at my discretion.

skearon

Also www.checktheregister.ie is going live November 1st 2006

ballooba

Oscar Bravo might update the original post with that address?

I can't edit that post for some reason.

I hate in these stickies when you have to scroll all the way through to get the up to date info.

motormouthmable

hopefully on-topic:

I've checked the register, I'm in but I'm "Election Type: A". What does "A" stands for????. I've spend the whole afternoon on google and gov.ie but didn't find anything there!

ballooba

Resident Irish citizens (P)
Resident British citizens (D)
Resident EU citizens (E)
Resident Non-EU citizens (L)

No such thing as type A?

motormouthmable

I rang the city council. It's because I'm from the continent and they need a proof of identity. A for "Alien, unidentified" maybe.

Sleepy

Does anyone know if late submissions are accepted?

I only discovered at the weekend that I'm no longer registered to vote in Galway so need to register at my address here in Dublin.

skearon

Sleepy wrote:

Does anyone know if late submissions are accepted?

I only discovered at the weekend that I'm no longer registered to vote in Galway so need to register at my address here in Dublin.

You have until December 9th now, it was extended from November 25th.

Plus you have always go on the supplementary register up to 15 days before the election date

Sleepy

Thanks skearon, submission's in the post

Funkstard

Hi, I've never registered in person (repeatedly forgot to), but it says I am registered...I think. It gives me a local polling station, says I am Election Type 'P'....basically there's nothing saying I'm not registered. Am I?

ballooba

Funkstard wrote:

Hi, I've never registered in person (repeatedly forgot to), but it says I am registered...I think. It gives me a local polling station, says I am Election Type 'P'....basically there's nothing saying I'm not registered. Am I?

Yes. As per above P is Irish Citizen.

Copying this thread over to the new General election sub forum located at the top of the politics forum front page.

I'm also stickying the General election 2007 copy so all discussion on this can go there.
I'm locking the one in the main politics forum but keeping it stuck for information purposes.
If there are any questions regarding voting registration-please pose them in the open version of this thread in the General election sub forum.

Brian017

When you check the register what does Supplementary: NO mean?

b3t4

Hi all,

First time voter (I know it's terrible and I am ashamed of this) so please be kind.

I thought I wasn't registered at home and registered in Dublin. It now appears that I am on both registers.

Do I need to do anything about this?
Who do I contact if I do and what not?
Also, how do I find out the candidates that will be on my polling card as I want to do some reading up about them before I vote?

Thanks all,
A

Passport

You also posted this twice, you dont like half measures do you!

lucernarian

I'm also on the same register twice. I registered once with my middle name 2 months before the register updates, as I was to be 18 before 15th February. But I gave just my ordinary name when the person came round to update the register, and instead of changing the old name, my shortened name was also added!! I don't think it makes much difference.

I told Louth co. co. and I got a reply saying it was removed, but the online system didn't change afterwards. I sent another email and I got confirmation that my name was removed when I sent the first email, on 30th November.

But today in the post, I got two identical letters sent from Seamus Kirk, whereas the rest of my family only got one??

I know lots of people aswell who are still not properly on the register. I wonder will all the problems be sorted come polling day.

DMC

You may find that candidates may have gotten the register for direct marketing some weeks/months ago. Nothing to worry about, unless 2 polling cards come in the post.

If it does, do what they used to do in the North.... vote early, and vote often!

UrbanFox

DMC wrote:

If it does, do what they used to do in the North.... vote early, and vote often!

Methinks this practice has occurred closer to home than NI...:)

DMC

Keep a months supply of papers and tape all the local radio death notices

Patricide

Ok just wondering if it was too late to register to vote cause i only found out there i wasnt on the check the register list.

Múinteoir

Patricide wrote:

Ok just wondering if it was too late to register to vote cause i only found out there i wasnt on the check the register list.

Do you mean the website? That's notoriously inaccurate. I wasn't able to find myself on it either and when I made further enquiries I found I actually was registered. Check directly with your local authority first.

merged with the sticky.
Folks theres a sticky on this and no it's not too late to register! You have less than a week I think so hurry up!

cast_iron

Tristrame wrote:

You have less than a week I think so hurry up!

Can one really register this late - or is it that one can just edit one's details for another week?

brianthebard

Yes you can, call your co.co. posthaste and fill out the forms they give you to get on the supplemental register. You can register on that up to tens days before the election afaik.

Patricide

14 from what i hear on that check the register place. And yea it seems veery inacurate to me, couldnt find my dad or my mother nor my brothers. Got the forms and i Gotta go register me asap.

cast_iron

cast_iron wrote:

Can one really register this late - or is it that one can just edit one's details for another week?

You go onto whats called the supplementary register.

The president of USI was on Ray Darcy on today fm this morning saying that the closing date for this is tomorrow so you MUST download the correct form now and get it stamped at a garda station and either swift post it to your co council or hand it in before they close tomorrow.

I'm putting a link to this in my sig for now -those that want further details can read the whole thread especially pages 1 and 2 I think.

DaBreno

hi guys, Im regsitered in another county, looking to get regsitered in my current county. Could anyone point me in the right direction? How long to I have to change over?
Thanks!

Tomorrow.
Now download from the link in my sig,Go to your Garda station with ID and proof of address and get it stamped and then swift post it to your co co or better still hand it in and get a receipt.

Also inform the local td or candidate of your choice so they can do some of the running for you.

Note-It doesn't mean you have to vote for them

brianthebard

Tristrame, may I suggest a small spam campaign to get your sig spread across a few forums? Or would that be a bit naughty? Obviously its also against Sig rules, perhaps you could ask for a one day exemption?

b3t4

I just rang the Cork County Council there and she put something by my name which'll mean I won't be sent out a polling card for Cork. She was a very nice lady I must say, asking me to make sure I was registered up here in the big smoke

Now anyone care to tell me how I find out who'll be on my polling card so I can make an informed decision when I do go to vote.

Thanks,
A.

brianthebard

mycandidate.ie will show you the way.

karen3212

Hi there is another form for registering to vote, the one above is change of address. Though the otherone is also on www.citizensinformation.ie

b3t4

Thanks brianthebard, just what I was looking for and way cleaner to read than some of the other stuff out there.

A

brianthebard

brianthebard wrote:

Tristrame, may I suggest a small spam campaign to get your sig spread across a few forums? Or would that be a bit naughty? Obviously its also against Sig rules, perhaps you could ask for a one day exemption?

Vexorg kindly facilitated a site wide announcement at the top of every forum.

brianthebard

Saw that, great idea. I doubt the government are trying to get this information out there, so boards must play its part!

Wisheress

Tristrame wrote:

You go onto whats called the supplementary register.

The president of USI was on Ray Darcy on today fm this morning saying that the closing date for this is tomorrow so you MUST download the correct form now and get it stamped at a garda station and either swift post it to your co council or hand it in before they close tomorrow.

I'm putting a link to this in my sig for now -those that want further details can read the whole thread especially pages 1 and 2 I think.

Just contacted my local council re supplemental register. The May 1st deadline only applies for postal voting. The rest of us have UNTIL FRIDAY to be added to the register!! There's still time!

jhegarty

Wisheress wrote:

Just contacted my local council re supplemental register. The May 1st deadline only applies for postal voting. The rest of us have UNTIL FRIDAY to be added to the register!! There's still time!

The form says 14 days before the election...


Does anyone know for sure ?

Agent J

I called Kildare county council myself.

Postal votes have until today.(End of Business)

Supplemental register has until Friday.(End of Busines)

Changge of address if you are in the same locality.Forget about it, You dont need the polling card, just ID.

Agent J

Agent J wrote:

Supplemental register has until Friday.(End of Busines)

Changge of address if you are in the same locality.Forget about it, You dont need the polling card, just ID.

Well now that is confusing

labour say what was on the Darcy show 15 working days which is today
http://www.labour.ie/registertovote/

clare co council

14 working days before polling day

You can apply for inclusion on the Supplemental Register at least 14 working days, excluding weekends, before polling day.

http://www.clare.ie/Democracy/electoralregister.html#Supplement

That would mean yesterday

and here http://www.vote.ie/content/view/8/15/

The Closing Date for receipt of Applications for the Supplement to the Register of Electorsis 15 working days before the Election and is published in local and National Newspapers in the run up to any Election and/or Referendum.

Everything suggests today is the closing date.

I wouldnt put it off anyone that can do it today because really and truly I wouldnt like to be relying on a phone call if the law says today-your vote might be disallowed when you turn up and you wouldnt want that!

Slicklink

You have until this Saturday to hand in any changes or supplementaries by hand according to the nice lady in Dublin City Council.

Nevyn

The same for Fingal as long as they have the forum in the office by close of business friday the 4th of may.

If you are in the blanchardstown area you can pick the change of address forum or the supplement forum if you were left off the register in the last shuffle or you have never been on the register from the blanchardstown library in the shopping centre.

Once the forum is filled in and stamped at that garda station they will accept hand deliveries at the Fingal blanchardtown offices which are behind the lisure plex.

Hand it in at the desk they will stamp it as recieved and send it via internal
mail to swords which will arrive the next day.

Banjo

The Kildare RFA3 (application for inclusion in suppliment / change of address) form states (Note 6) :

RFA3 wrote:

If you are applying after an election or referendum has been called, please note that the application must reach the City or County Council concerned before the Fourteenth day (Sundays, public holidays and Good Friday excluded) before polling day in order to be considered for inclusion in the supplement for that election or referendum. Late applications will not be processed until after polling day

which would mean that, given the election is on Thursday 24th, the woman from Kildare Co.Co. who said Friday was ok was possibly being a bit conservative.

Miguel_Sanchez

What section/department of Dublin City Council should applications be addressed to does anyone know?

squirrel6767

Jeff_Lebowski wrote:

What section/department of Dublin City Council should applications be addressed to does anyone know?

I sent my RFa2 form in today to get on the supplimental register - confirmed you have until end of business Friday. The address should be at the top left hand corner of the form you get in the garda station.

Address is

Dublin City Council
Franchise Section
16/19 Wellington Quay
Dublin 2

xeduCat

The information in the sitewide notice needs to be updated ASAP. The official closing date for the supplementary register (as notified in ads published in all national newspapers today) is SATURDAY 5TH MAY. Some authorities will accept forms that are faxed on Saturday, or even received on Monday, but there's no obligation to do this so best to check that for yourself.

The advice that certain organisations are giving may not be 100% accurate (I've contacted who I know to get them to update). Please rely on the Dept. of Environment's official advertisements, and the provisions of the Electoral Act instead.

(Aside: I spoke on Today FM this evening to explain the system, just in case any of yiz heard me!)

Vexorg

Thanks for the update xeduCat - announcement updated.

yes thank you xeducat.
I did not see any of todays newspaper advertisements.

I'm quite annoyed at the misinformation myself available on a widespread basis on political party sites and EVEN on the governments own local authority sites and wait for it here aswell.

Time to use the Mad icons :mad: :mad: :mad:

I've just been on to the franchise department of wicklow co council and they say the closing date is saturday 5th may and were adamant about that but that I was to ring on friday to know what the opening arrangements for saturday are.

They are still talking about what to do...

My advice to anyone is if you want to vote - fill in the form now,get it stamped and if possible hand it in personally to the franchise dept of your local authority.
Absolutely do not leave it to the last minute.

Pyjamarama

On Monday I checked on the citizens information website to check the closing date for registering for postal vote and it said the date had already passed - now i see that i actually had until yesterday. :mad:

Rang my county council to confirm and the closing date was yesterday. I know I probably should have checked there 1st but i would have thought that citizens information would have the correct information - hardly too much to ask *sigh*