Register To Vote

Register of Electors

In order to be able to vote at an election or referendum, your name must be entered on the Register of Electors for the locality in which you ordinarily reside. The Register of Electors comes into force on 15th February each year and is used at each election and referendum held in the succeeding 12 months. The Register of Electors is available for inspection at Dublin City Council Offices, Garda Stations, Libraries, Post Offices and online at voter.ie from 1st February.

Conditions for Registration

Age: a person must be at least 18 years of age on the day the register comes into force (15th February). Every resident aged 18 and upwards is entitled to be on the register.

Residence: a person must be ordinarily resident in the state and at the address at which he/she wishes to be registered.

Citizenship: every adult resident in the state is entitled to be registered; their citizenship determines the type of elections they may vote in.

Voting Rights

Referenda: only Irish citizens can vote in referenda e.g. to vote for or against a proposal to modify the Irish constitution (Bunreacht na hÉireann).

Presidential: only Irish citizens can vote in Presidential Elections.

Elections for Dáil Éireann: both Irish and British citizens can vote in elections for Dáil Éireann (the lower house of parliament).

Elections for the European Parliament: Irish, and European Union (EU) citizens can vote in elections for the European Parliament.

Elections for Local Government: Irish, British, EU and non-EU citizens can vote in local elections.

Supplement to the Register

If a person is not included on the Register of Electors currently in force, they may apply for entry in the Supplement to the Register. Persons entered in the Supplement are entitled to vote at elections/referenda held during the currency of the Register. You can apply to have your name included in the Supplement to the Register by completing a "RFA2 – Inclusion in Supplement Form". It must be signed by a member of the Garda Siochána, and returned to the Franchise Section, Dublin City Council, Block 4, Floor 4, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8.

Change your voting address

In order to change your registered voting address, you must complete a "RFA3 – Change of Address Supplement Form", ensuring it has been signed by a member of the Garda Siochána, and returned to the Franchise Section, Dublin City Council, Block 4, Floor 4, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8.

Change of Citizenship

If you are on the Electoral Register as a non-Irish Citizen but have since become an Irish Citizen you must fill in a "RFA 5 - Change of Citizenship Supplement Form" which will enable you to vote at all elections and referendums.

Supplement forms must be submitted before the fourteenth day (Sundays, public holidays and Good Friday excluded) before polling day. This is a statutory requirement. Eligible electors whose names are included in the supplement will be entitled to vote at an election or referendum held during the lifetime of the register

Note: you may be required to produce documentary evidence to support your eligibility to vote, e.g. a birth certificate or a certificate of naturalization.

Postal Vote

Registration authorities prepare a postal voters list as part of the Register of Electors. Applications for inclusion in the list must be received by 25th November at the latest. Please note that if you are out of the country on holiday you are not eligible for a postal vote.

The following categories of persons are registered as postal voters:

Note: An elector registered as a postal voter may vote by post only and may not vote at a polling station.

Frequently asked questions