Franchise - Register of Electors
This section addresses the conditions necessary for registration in the Register of Electors.
Age
A person must be at least 18 years on the day the register comes into force (15 February). Each resident aged 18 and upwards is entitled to be on the register.
Citizenship
While every adult resident is entitled to be registered, the registration authority needs to know a person's citizenship, because this determines the elections in which a person may vote. The qualifying date for citizenship is 1 September, preceding the coming into force of the register. The right to vote is as follows:
Irish citizens may vote at every election and referendum.
British citizens may vote at Dáil, European and local elections.
Other EU citizens may vote at European and local elections.
Non-EU citizens may vote at local elections only.
Residence
A person must be "ordinarily resident" at the relevant address on 1 September preceding the coming into force of the register. A person may be registered at one address only. If a person has more than one address - for example, a person living away from home to attend college - the registration authority should be told the address for which the person wishes to be registered.
A person who leaves his or her ordinary residence with the intention of returning there within 18 months can continue to be registered there, subject to the overriding condition that they may be registered at one address only. A person who is absent temporarily from his or her ordinary address, such as a person on holiday, in hospital or absent for employment purposes, should be registered for that address. A visitor or person staying temporarily at the address should not be registered.
