Registering to vote is an important step in making sure your voice is heard. Over 700,000 young people aged 18-29 in Ireland are eligible to vote, but some are not on the electoral register and unable to vote if an election or referendum is held. This means that young people’s voices are not being heard on issues of national importance. Registering to vote for the first time is quick and easy, here’s how you can do it.
Register to vote for the first time
Registering to vote for the first time is easy. You can register to vote, online, at any time, or in person using a form.
Register to vote online
Simply go to the Check the Register website and complete your details in order to be added to the electoral register.
Register to vote in person
The easiest way for you to register to vote or update your details is by applying online and to do this you are required to supply your PPSN (Personal Public Service Number). But if you do not have a PPSN, or do not want to share it, you can download and print a form and have it witnessed or certified when you bring photo ID to your local Garda Station or your local authority. For more on this see the ‘Forms’ section of https://www.checktheregister.ie/en-IE/forms
This section details other ways to register or update your details if you
- don’t have a PPSN or don’t want to share it
- want to update your citizenship
- want to apply for a special or postal vote
- want to apply to be an anonymous elector.
- want to make a third party request for a change to the register
Are you eligible to register?
There are slightly different rules for different kinds of elections.
You can vote in the general elections if you are:
- Over 18
- An Irish citizen
- A British citizen living in Ireland
You can vote in a referendum if you are:
- Over 18
- An Irish citizen
You can vote in the local elections if you are:
- Over 18
- An Irish citizen
- A British citizen living in Ireland
- An EU citizen living in Ireland
- A non-EU citizen living in Ireland
You can vote in the European Parliament elections if you are:
- Over 18
- An Irish citizen
An EU citizen living in Ireland (including British citizens)
Checking if you’re already registered to vote
Use the Check the Register site to see if you’re on the electoral register.
What you’ll need to register to vote
You’ll need to provide your PPSN, date of birth and Eircode (so that your local authority can confirm your details).
Do I have to provide my PPSN?
If you do not have a PPSN, or do not want to share it, you can download and print a form and have it witnessed or certified when you bring photo ID to your local Garda Station or your local authority. For more on this see the ‘Forms’ section of https://www.checktheregister.ie/en-IE/forms
How long does it take?
Your application must be received by the local authority at least 15 days before an election or referendum (excluding Sundays, Good Friday and public holidays). If it is received on or after 14 days before an election or referendum is taking place, you will not be registered to vote in that election or referendum.
What is the deadline to register?
You can register to vote at any time up to 15 days before an ‘electoral event’ (election or referendum), so make sure you register to vote ahead of that deadline.
Changing details on the voting register
You can now change your voting information any time of the year. The simplest way to do this is by going online to the Check the Register website.
Remember, you need to update your details at least 15 days before the day we vote. But, days like Sundays, bank holidays, and Good Friday don’t count as part of these 15 days.
If you’re already on the voting list, go check your information. You should add your PPS number, when you were born, and your Eircode on checktheregister.ie. This helps the local authority make sure your details are right. Don’t worry, your PPS number and birthday won’t be shown on the voting list for everyone to see.
Changing your name
If you want to change your details on the voting list (like your name), you can do it online. Just go to the Check the Register site and click on “Complete/update my record”.
Changing your address
If you want to change your details on the voting list (like your address), you can do it online. Just go to the Check the Register site and click on “Complete/update my record”.
Voting in person
Where can I vote in person
If you are not sure about where your polling station is, you can find your polling station on your local authority’s website or contact the relevant city/county council and ask for the location of your polling station.
What you’ll need to bring with you
You don’t need your polling card to vote. But, when you get to the polling station, they might ask you to show some identification before they give you your ballot paper. If you don’t have the right identification, or if the person in charge isn’t sure it’s really you based on what you show them, they won’t let you vote. There’s a complete list of the identification you can use right here.
FAQ’s
You only have to register once to be included on the electoral register.
We would strongly advise all those eligible to vote but not on the electoral register to apply for inclusion as soon as you can.
The new electoral registration system introduced continuous registration – this means that the same process is in place all year round and you can register to vote at any time up to 15 days before an election or referendum.
So you risk missing the deadline before an election/referendum which you want to vote in if you wait until after it is called.
Note: Your application must be received by the local authority at least 15 days before an election or referendum (excluding Sundays, Good Friday and public holidays). If it is received on or after 14 days before an election or referendum is taking place, you will not be registered to vote in that election or referendum.
You can pre-register to vote if you are aged 16 or over, but you will not be eligible to vote until you are 18.
By pre-registering at the age of 16, it means that your local authority will be able to move you to the live electoral register when you turn 18.