Name on publicly available electoral roll

lyverbird1

Just wondering if anyone knows what kind of access people have to details like a person's home address on the electoral roll. I remember years ago they were available in public libraries and I assume nowadays they are probably available online. If this is the case and you are registered to vote can you have your details removed from publicly available records? I have reason to believe that somebody I know is trying to get my home address and he is not the kind of person I would like to have such information, so also wondering if it is readily available on a public forum, what can I do to prevent this information being accessed, especially by undesirables?!

Victor

There are two different registers. One is publicly available, the other isn't. Which box did you tick on the form?

Suggestion: go to the library and see if you can find yourself on the register. Separately check here: http://www.checktheregister.ie/

You might take advice from the Garda on personal and home security.

lyverbird1

Victor wrote: »

There are two different registers. One is publicly available, the other isn't. Which box did you tick on the form?

Suggestion: go to the library and see if you can find yourself on the register. Separately check here: http://www.checktheregister.ie/

You might take advice from the Garda on personal and home security.

Thanks for that, advice appreciated! Not too worried just yet, really taking precautions in case things turn nasty but will keep every option in mind...

coylemj

Ultimately anyone can walk into a library or Garda station and ask to see the local register but the last time I saw one they were just arranged by street so unless you knew the person's address i.e., the name of the street you would have a difficult job finding someone's entry.

The purpose of the public offices having the register is to allow someone to check if they and their family are on the register, I don't think you can just walk in and ask to find all occurrences of James Brown or whatever so if the individual who's trying to track you doesn't know what street you live on it's unlikely he'll track you down through the electoral register.

WildOscar

Victor wrote: »

There are two different registers. One is publicly available, the other isn't. Which box did you tick on the form?

Suggestion: go to the library and see if you can find yourself on the register. Separately check here: http://www.checktheregister.ie/

You might take advice from the Garda on personal and home security.

isn't everyone on the list in the library?

coylemj

WildOscar wrote: »

isn't everyone on the list in the library?

Correct and everyone is also listed when you search on www.checktheregister.ie but you can choose not to be included on the list that they sell to direct marketing (aka junk mail) companies.

For example, I ticked the box on the registration form to say that I didn't want my name on the copy of the register that is sold on to direct marketing companies so while I can find myself on www.checktheregister.ie , on my entry it says 'No' under the heading 'Edited Register', this is explained in a footnote as follows....

The edited register contains the names and addresses of persons who have indicated that their details can be used for a purpose other than electoral or other statutory use, e.g. for direct marketing use by a commercial or other organisation.

The full register lists everyone who is entitled to vote and once an edited register has been published can only be used for an electoral or other statutory purpose.

- YES indicates that you want your details to be included in the edited register
- NO indicates that you do not want the registration details to be available for non-statutory uses.

kaiser sauze

Excuse the thread hijack, but could someone explain what a "statutory purpose" actually is?

coylemj

kaiser sauze wrote: »

Excuse the thread hijack, but could someone explain what a "statutory purpose" actually is?

There is obviously a piece of legislation somewhere which says that each local authority is obliged to keep an electoral register for the purpose of blah, blah, blah which would include eligibility to vote and being liable for jury selection, that's the statutory bit. Selling the names to a junk mail company is non-statutory.