Today (8th Feb) is the last day to register for the General Election!

Eliot Rosewater

Firstly, you should check to see if you're already on the register of electors at http://www.checktheregister.ie/. Just because you haven't registered personally does not mean you won't be on it; some people (like my girlfriend) mysteriously appeared on it when they turned 18. Do check now to make sure!

If you're not registered...

The general election has been called for the 25th of February. To get on the supplemental register you must apply at least 14 or 15 days before polling day; Sundays and Public Holidays excluded. As such, Tuesday the 8th of February is about the deadline. The earlier the better, of course.

You can vote in Dail elections if you are an Irish or British citizen and resident in Ireland.

To apply print out this form: http://www.checktheregister.ie/appforms/RFA2%20English%20-%20form.pdf

You must fill it out and get it stamped in a Garda station. This is to confirm your identity, so you need to bring a passport or other ID.

You must then hand the completed form in to your local City or County Council. It must arrive there by the 8th of February: best to hand it in personally if you can.

Get registered - it's the only way you can make your voice heard!


Source: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/government_in_ireland/elections_and_referenda/voting/registering_to_vote.html

Colmo52

If you turn 18 on March 3rd(for example). Can you register, and vote in election.

Eliot Rosewater

Colmo52 wrote: »

If you turn 18 on March 3rd(for example). Can you register, and vote in election.

Apparently so:

You are eligible for inclusion in the supplement to the Register of Electors on or after the day on which you reach 18 years of age. You can be included if this birthday falls after the closing date for applications but is on or before polling day. If you are within this category, you should accompany your application with a copy of your birth certificate.

So I'd say fill out the form, photocopy your birth cert as it says, and when you go into the council building make sure something will be done about it.

LittleBook

Sorry if this is a stupid question but the SDCC website says:

Not registered to vote?

If you are not registered to vote and wish to be included in the Final Register of Electors 2011/12 - download form RFA1 (Irish / English). This form can also be used to make an amendment or deletion to the Register. Completed form must be returned to your local authority on or before 25th November 2010.

I thought it was a little too easy when I did this last year (RFA1 doesn't require a Garda witness) and it clearly hasn't worked as I'm still not on the register.

What is RFA1?

Mr.Applepie

LittleBook wrote: »

Sorry if this is a stupid question but the SDCC website says:



I thought it was a little too easy when I did this last year (RFA1 doesn't require a Garda witness) and it clearly hasn't worked as I'm still not on the register.

What is RFA1?

From the main page of checktheregister.ie it looks to me like you need to fill in RFA2 - this is to be added to the supplement register. This is the form I am filing out after I magically dropped off the register at the last election.

LittleBook

Oh me too! I just wondered why the SDCC site had a different form.

lallychops

currently not registered to vote. is it too late to do so? id like to vote in the march election. no idea where to start though.

Orion

There's a sticky with details. You have until Feb 18th

pegasus1

George hook has said it's by feb 21st... now weather to believe him is the question!

Balmed Out

Dont know if this will help but...
Its a long time ago so the memory is a little hazy but when I turned 18 it wasnt long enough before the election to be automatically put on the registry. I complained to a canvasing TD who went off and got me onto it with so far as I remember absolutley no more input from me. I never voted for him but as a bonus for the rest of his career he sent me a Christmas card each year.

Might be worth your while ringing up your local fianna fail td and adding to his workload:)

Mr.Applepie

LittleBook wrote: »

Oh me too! I just wondered why the SDCC site had a different form.

Right I did some googling and:

A Draft Register is compiled ever year. If you wish to be on this list you must complete a RFA1 form before the 25th November. So if you fill in an RFA1 now you won't be included until 2012.

After this date you can get added to the supplement register. To do this you must fill in an RFA2 form.

I would presume the supplement register is merged with the draft register each year but perhaps someone more knowledgable could confirm this?

dave1982

I collected a form from the post office in the form of a booklet,Is this the correct form?Or do i need to get special form for late registration after November 25th?

Benny_Cake

Quick question - I moved from Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown to Kildare North in the last year. I'm still down on the 2010/2011 register at my old address but I understand that will expire on February 14th. Do I need to fill out an RFA3 to move my vote to Kildare? I share the same name as my Dad (with a Jnr on the end) and I'm reluctant to give my former address in case there is a mixup and they transfer his vote as well! I know how easy it is for these things to happen.

reallyrose

I sent off a change of address form ages ago. Does anyone know if I can check to make sure the form was received and processed?

MadsL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6zD88yOudM

Who can vote...(Resident British citizens may vote at Dáil elections)

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/moving_to_ireland/introduction_to_the_irish_system/right_to_vote.html

Send me a PM if you would be interested in volunteering to run some voter registration nights in Dublin's bars/clubs. (strictly no political canvassing, just to encourage people to get out and vote!!) Vote No to Apathy!

Copy my sig and spread the word...

ParkRunner

Some further useful info

A draft register is compiled on 1 November each year. You have until 25 November to make a correction or have your name included. You may be asked for documents such as a birth certificate or a certificate of naturalisation in order to prove your eligibility to vote. The amended register is then published in February.

If you are qualified to vote but have missed the deadline to include your name on the register, you can apply to be included in a Supplement to the Register, which will allow you to vote at any election or referendum held during the year. You can apply for inclusion on the Supplemental Register at least 15 days before polling day (Sundays, public holidays and Good Friday are not counted as days for this purpose).

LittleBook

Mr.Applepie wrote: »

Right I did some googling and:

A Draft Register is compiled ever year. If you wish to be on this list you must complete a RFA1 form before the 25th November. So if you fill in an RFA1 now you won't be included until 2012.

After this date you can get added to the supplement register. To do this you must fill in an RFA2 form.

I would presume the supplement register is merged with the draft register each year but perhaps someone more knowledgable could confirm this?

Cheers. Based on what I read on the SDCC Site I sent in the RFA1 last year but I'm still not on the register. It should be updated as it clearly says that if you're not on the register you need to complete the RFA1. I'll drop them a line.

I'll be handing in an RFA2 this year to be sure.

Seloth

My mum was registered to vote and recived her card during the last Lisbon election.However when checking the electoral list online she is not listed.

Mr.Applepie

Benny_Cake wrote: »

Quick question - I moved from Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown to Kildare North in the last year. I'm still down on the 2010/2011 register at my old address but I understand that will expire on February 14th. Do I need to fill out an RFA3 to move my vote to Kildare? I share the same name as my Dad (with a Jnr on the end) and I'm reluctant to give my former address in case there is a mixup and they transfer his vote as well! I know how easy it is for these things to happen.

Yeah the RFA3 is when you are changing address but I don't know if you will automatically be dropped from the register. I think on the website it shows if you were on the register last year and if you're on the draft one this year (two seperate lines). I know my wife is still at her parents address and has 2 lines. One is 2010 and one is the draft register for 2011.

I'm a Jnr. as well so I've made a note of it on the form at the side. I presume they have to be processed by people with at least half a brain!

Benny_Cake

Mr.Applepie wrote: »

Yeah the RFA3 is when you are changing address but I don't know if you will automatically be dropped from the register. I think on the website it shows if you were on the register last year and if you're on the draft one this year (two seperate lines). I know my wife is still at her parents address and has 2 lines. One is 2010 and one is the draft register for 2011.

I'm a Jnr. as well so I've made a note of it on the form at the side. I presume they have to be processed by people with at least half a brain!

Thanks! I'll fill out the RFA3 and leave the Jnr in...was just wary as I can imagine how busy they'll be,I'd imagine there will be a lot of people eager to vote this time out.

salad dodger

Mrs D and I missed the cut off for the register back in november and so we'll have to fill out the supplimentary form.
Out of which I have what could be a stoopid question but here goes:P.

Does the Garda stamp have to be from the station in your home town? The notes on the form only says 'your local station'. How local is local?

I ask as we only have our village station here in which is usually only manned during the day when we're both at work and empty by the time we get home. But there are stations in both Bundoran and Ballyshannon where there would be someone around late in the evenings when we could make it in.

AugustusMinimus

Quick question.

I moved house but I didn't move far. My vote will be at the same station and likely the same room.

Do I need my polling card or will ID alone allow me to vote if I am registered.

I'm worried I won't be able to get a change of address form in, in time considering the Green's announcement today.

Cavehill Red

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

Quick question.

I moved house but I didn't move far. My vote will be at the same station and likely the same room.

Do I need my polling card or will ID alone allow me to vote if I am registered.

I'm worried I won't be able to get a change of address form in, in time considering the Green's announcement today.

Your ID will do, mate. I still vote in a previous constituency. Won't have time to move my vote now. Same as yourself. Last time, I simply went to the station with my passport. Just check on the register where you're supposed to vote and turn up on the day.

AugustusMinimus

Cavehill Red wrote: »

Your ID will do, mate. I still vote in a previous constituency. Won't have time to move my vote now. Same as yourself. Last time, I simply went to the station with my passport. Just check on the register where you're supposed to vote and turn up on the day.

Excellent. Thanks for that. I'm guessing that a driving licence as ID is good enough ?

sceptre

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

Excellent. Thanks for that. I'm guessing that a driving licence as ID is good enough ?

Definitely good enough.

I'm in a similar position to Benny Cake, I've moved from Dublin North to Dublin South West. From reading the change of address form, it looks like I have to send the form to Fingal CC first so they can delete me from their register, then they forward the form to South Dublin CC. I'm worried that this wont be done in time, especially if I have to rely on someone else to pass on my details. I'd prefer to vote in my new constituency - should I try to change, or just go back to my old constituency with ID and vote there?

Sparks

LittleBook wrote: »

Cheers. Based on what I read on the SDCC Site I sent in the RFA1 last year but I'm still not on the register. It should be updated as it clearly says that if you're not on the register you need to complete the RFA1. I'll drop them a line.

I'll be handing in an RFA2 this year to be sure.

I'm in the same boat as yourself - RFA1 went in before Nov25 last year, but still not on checktheregister.ie.
However, I don't think that the 2011 register is published there until Feb1 this year; so not being on it today doesn't mean you're not on it for 2011.

I've still got an RFA2 filled out and ready to go in case my name's not down by Feb1...

moonstone63

Eliot Rosewater wrote: »

.....
You can vote in Dail elections if you are an Irish or British citizen and resident in Ireland.

......

Get registered - it's the only way you can make your voice heard!
l

I would love to be able to vote - I have been living in Ireland since 1997, but I am not citizen - which means I can't vote. I think this is not fair, I have contributed quite generously (by paying taxes) to the outgoing ministers pensions, and I am not entitled to have my voice heard?

Of course I could apply to become a citizen - but guess what: it costs "only" €950!

6ix

I'm living in Dublin for a few years but have always voted in my home constituency - don't know why I never changed it... Anyway, I need to vote in Dublin this time, so I know I need to send in the RFA3 form.

With the current speculation about February 25th, what is the likely cut-off point for changes to the register?

Edit: Just saw this:

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.

So if the election is Feb 25th that means the cut off day is the 9th of February I think.

banshee_bones

I also have my vote down the west back home, so I need to fill out RFA2 or is it RFA3 ? Where do I submit it to then?

6ix

banshee_bones wrote: »

I also have my vote down the west back home, so I need to fill out RFA2 or is it RFA3 ? Where do I submit it to then?

It's RFA 3 but I'm not 100% sure where you send it. I thought it would have been to the new county/city council, but at the bottom of the form it says:

I hereby authorise (name of registration authority) City/County Council to delete my name from the register of electors in respect of the address at (3) above and, where appropriate*, to forward this form to the registration authority for the address indicated at (2) above

That sounds like you send it to the old CC but it's not made clear anywhere. Can anyone advise?

6ix

6ix wrote: »

That sounds like you send it to the old CC but it's not made clear anywhere. Can anyone advise?

I rang Fingal (my old CC) yesterday to make sure that if I did this, they would forward the details to the new CC in time. I was told to send the form to the new CC, because if I send it to the old one I'll be deleted and I'll have no vote at all. I told her that this advice completely contradicts the information given on the form and she goes "no, thats the way we always do it. Send it to the new CC and they'll send us a copy". Then she told me to do it asap as there could be an election in a matter of days :rolleyes:

SeaSide

6ix wrote: »

I'm living in Dublin for a few years but have always voted in my home constituency - don't know why I never changed it... Anyway, I need to vote in Dublin this time, so I know I need to send in the RFA3 form.

With the current speculation about February 25th, what is the likely cut-off point for changes to the register?

Edit: Just saw this:

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.

So if the election is Feb 25th that means the cut off day is the 9th of February I think.

I would say the 4th is that last day as there are two befores in the above
before the polling day would be the 24th take away 14 working days you get the 7th and the day before that would be the 4th

6ix

SeaSide wrote: »

I would say the 4th is that last day as there are two befores in the above
before the polling day would be the 24th take away 14 working days you get the 7th and the day before that would be the 4th

Well it doesn't actually say 'working days' - it says "Sundays, public holidays and Good Friday excluded" so I've included Saturdays... So if we take what you've said into account it might be the 8th? Hard to know in fairness.

Either way, I'll be submitting my form to Dublin City Council tomorrow - they also told me on the phone that you need to send it to the new CC.

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

Scien

Scien wrote: »

Wtf!! :eek:
I got mine stamped in the Garda Station and sent it to my old CC this morning..
They had better send it to the new one or I'll be livid.

I'm sure they will, that's supposed to be the procedure. Maybe give them a call in a few days just to be on the safe side!

jackoire

I tried my address and my details but it seems the site doesnt recognise my house number because it has a letter in it. The site only recognises nummbers for the house number it seems.

What do i do now?

AnnyHallsal

Damn. I got a change of address form stamped at the local Gardai Office yesterday. I sent it to the Franchise Office, Dublin City Council, rather than my local council Does anyone know what I should do?

Offside

Just checked the register and I'm on it, but I'm just curious about the Edited Register - from the website

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.

I am down as a YES - what commercial organisation is going to use it for marketing and how do I change it to a no?

ei.sdraob

Sigh, went down to register to get it sorted, they messedup some details yet again, grrr :mad:

I recommend everyone check their details, it be a pity to not be able to vote due to some beuracratic errors :rolleyes:

AnnyHallsal

For anyone else in Dublin changing address you do return the completed form to: the Franchise Section, Ormond Building, 31 – 36 Ormond Quay, Dublin 7.

Phew!

DERICKOO

checked the register i'm not registered the wife is not the neibours on both sides are not and to cap it all have been liven here for 25 years as are the neighbours.
should I tell them.

ei.sdraob

DERICKOO wrote: »

checked the register i'm not registered the wife is not the neibours on both sides are not and to cap it all have been liven here for 25 years as are the neighbours.
should I tell them.

yes

GT_TDI_150

Guys,

I have my 'inclusion to register'/'change of adress'(have both as moved address but someone saw fit to remove me from the register in my previous area) forms filled out and stamped, ready to go but who do I address them to? I know they need to go to the County Council but after that I dont know and surely if they were addressed to the worng person they would spent years circulating the vacuum that is the public service.

thanks

overheard

I live in rathgar, got this form completed and stamped this morning do i send it to the Franchise office too?

Flimbos

Just rang the register of electors in my new local council (Fingal - 01 8905992) and I was advised to get the form stamped in any Garda station (bring ID and proof of address), and send it directly to my new county council.

I asked whether I need to send another form to my old council to take my name off that register, but they said there's no need - they would send on a copy.

AnnyHallsal

Very confusing. On the website it says to send change of address forms to the Franchise Office.

AnnyHallsal

AnnyHallsal wrote: »

Very confusing. On the website it says to send change of address forms to the Franchise Office.

It depends where you're moving from/to. That's the right place to send it if you've changed address within Dublin CC area or if its your new council.

AnnyHallsal

Flying Fox wrote: »

It depends where you're moving from/to. That's the right place to send it if you've changed address within Dublin CC area or if its your new council.

Ah, damn. I didn't realise there's a separate South Dublin CC. Thanks a mill. Confusion cleared.

GT_TDI_150

anyone?

Orando Broom

Mods the date is the 8th February, FYI, can the title it be amended.

Also the check the register site is BS. Don't trust it. Check by phone.