Mr Phil Hogan T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has today (30 September, 2012) taken this early opportunity to encourage people to vote in the referendum relating to children on 10 November 2012 and to encourage those who are not registered to vote to make the necessary arrangements to do so.
“This is our second referendum this year. Referendums are an integral part of our democratic make up as a society and it is important that people take the opportunity to have their say and vote on 10 November 2012. Those who are entitled to vote but are not registered to do so have until 23rd October 2012 to have their names included in the Supplement to the Register. As polling falls on a Saturday on this occasion, this should facilitate a greater number of people to get out and vote”, the Minister said.
Supplement to the Register
The closing date for receipt of applications by the registration authorities - County or City Councils - for inclusion in the supplement to the register in order to vote in the forthcoming referendum is Tuesday 23rd October 2012.
Registration authorities are responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the register of electors. The current register came into force on 15 February 2012. People can check with their registration authority directly or on www.checktheregister.ie to confirm that they are registered to vote in the forthcoming referendum. For those who are not registered, application forms for inclusion in the supplement to the register (RFA 2) are available from your registration authority and can be downloaded from www.checktheregister.ie.
An application for inclusion in the supplement to the Register must be signed by the applicant in the presence of a member of the Garda Síochána from the applicant’s local Garda station who must first be satisfied as to the person’s identity before signing, dating and stamping the form. The Garda may request photographic or other identification. Where the applicant establishes in writing that he is unable to progress the application in this way, the form can be signed by the applicant in the presence of an official of the registration authority who is satisfied as to his or her identity. Again, photographic or other identification may be required. If neither option is viable due to physical illness or physical disability, the application form must be accompanied by a medical certificate.
Supplement to the Postal Voters and Special Voters List
The Minister also drew attention to the narrow window of opportunity that will arise for those voters who are eligible for, but not already included in, the postal or special voters lists, and who are thinking of applying for inclusion in the supplements to those lists. The latest date for receipt of such applications, if the persons applying wish to be postal or special voters, as appropriate, at the forthcoming referendum is two days after the Polling Day Order for the referendum is made by the Minister. The Minister has not yet made the Polling Day Order for the Referendum, but eligible voters who will be seeking to avail of this facility are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. “I would encourage anybody who is entitled to a postal or special vote and who wishes to be included in the supplements to those lists to apply as quickly as possible”, the Minister said.
In particular, the Minister took the opportunity to remind full-time students registered at home who are living elsewhere while attending an educational institution in the State and persons living at home who are unable to go to a polling station to vote because of a physical illness or disability that there is still time to apply for inclusion in the supplement to the postal voters’ list.
Notes for Editors - Who can vote in the referendum?
Every citizen of Ireland ordinarily resident in the State, who is aged 18 years or over on polling day, and whose name is entered on the register of electors is entitled to vote.
Certain categories of voters are entitled to postal votes. These include –
• Whole time members of the Defence Forces,
• Garda Síochána,
• Irish Diplomats serving abroad and their spouses/partners,
• Persons living at home who are unable to go to a polling station to vote because of a physical illness or physical disability,
• Persons whose occupations are likely to prevent them from voting at their local polling station on election day, including full-time students registered at home who are living elsewhere while attending an educational institution in the State.
An elector registered as a postal voter may vote by post only and may not vote at a polling station.
Special voters are persons who are ordinarily resident at a hospital or nursing home who, because of their physical illness or disability, cannot go in person to a polling station.
Further information on the Register of Electors is available on
www.environ.ie/en/Publications/LocalGovernment/Voting/FileDownLoad,1897,en.pdf