Registering to vote is now much easier in Ireland
Historically, registering to vote in Ireland involved a trip to the local Garda station to get a paper form stamped. Fortunately, those days are gone, and it is much simpler now. You can register to vote, online, at any time.
Simply go to www.checktheregister.ie and complete your details to be added to the electoral register. You can check the registration and update your details if you are already registered. If you are a first-time registrant, then you complete that form instead.
The details you’ll need to provide are:
- your PPS number
- your date of birth
- your Eircode
These details are needed for your local authority to confirm your details. And that is it! You’ll be ready to vote, should an election or a referendum be called!
Three reasons why your vote is important
- It gives you a say on important issues that affect you — from roads and recycling, to education and climate change, to housing and employment.
- It gives you the choice to vote for your local and national representatives, if you don’t vote, other people get to choose who represents you.
- Elections can be called at short notice — if you don’t register 15 days or more before an election or referendum, you may not be able to vote. It is as simple past that.
