How do I Check the Register of Electors in Ireland?

Irish citizens are entitled to vote, but must register in order to do so.

In order to participate in the democratic process in the Republic of Ireland, you must be registered to vote. If you are not registered to vote, you will be unable to take part in local and national elections. The register of electors in Ireland is compiled by individual county and city councils, who pool their collective local data to create a large registry that covers the entire country. All eligible voters are listed on the register, which is available online, in all public libraries and in police stations. An updated register is published each year on the first day of November.

Things You'll Need

• RFA3 Form

Instructions

1. Visit the register of electors site or go in person to your local library or police station if you live in the Republic of Ireland. You are entitled to view the register of electors at any time you wish.

2. Browse by council. Local authorities are in charge of compiling voter data, such as names and addresses. The names in the register are listed first by county, then if applicable by city. Much of the Republic of Ireland is rural, so many people are listed just by the county in which they are registered to vote. Hard copies of the register are published by the alphabetical order of the Irish counties.

3. Search online by name. Browsing the entire register can take time. Visit the website and click on the county of the person you wish to find. If you are checking the register to see if you are registered to vote, click on your own county then enter your first name, last name, house number, street name and town. Then click search.

4. Search for your own name at your previous address if you can't find it in the register. Your details may be out of date, in which case you may not be eligible to vote in any upcoming elections.

5. Add your name to the register if it absent and update your details if they are incorrect. You will not be able to vote if you are not accurately included in the register. To do this you must fill out an RFA3 form and return it by mail by the 14th day before polling day. If you do not want your name to be included in the register, which is used for marketing purposes, you must tick the opt-out box on the RFA3 form. You must be over 18 years old and a citizen of the Republic of Ireland to be eligible to vote.

Tips & Warnings

• Make a copy of your RFA3 form before mailing it back.

• Update your local authority with any changes of address as soon as you can.

References

• Register of Electors: Check the Register
• Register of Electors: RFA3 Form

Resources

• Citizens Information: Registering To Vote