Silouette graphic representing Tipperary

Voting and Election Guide Publication

Local authorities publish guides in Irish, English and some European languages to explain how the Irish voting system works and how the public can to exercise their right to vote.

Election and Referendum Information Leaflets

These are available on the Department’s website at http://www.housing.gov.ie/local-government/voting/voting. There is a Section listing the various leaflets.

They are produced in various languages, as relevant to the election type.

The leaflets are:

  • How the Dáil is Elected
  • How Irish MEPS are Elected (14 languages)
  • How Local Authorities are Elected (17 languages)
  • How the President is Elected
  • How the Seanad is Elected
  • The Referendum in Ireland
  • The Register of Electors (17 languages)
  • Information for Voters with a Disability
  • A Guide Ireland’s to PR-STV Voting System

Statutory Provisions

The statutory provisions relating to the qualifications for registration as electors are contained in the Electoral Act 1992 and are summarised as follow:

18 years or over on 15th February in the year in which the Register comes into force.

Ordinarily resident in the constituency on the qualifying date (1 September in the year proceeding the year in which the Register comes into force)

Related Information

Categories of Elector

The Register comprises four categories of electors. A person's citizenship determines their category and the type of elections at which they may vote as in the table below:

Citizenship Type of Election at which eligible to vote Letter on Register

Local & European Elections

When the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government announces that the Government has agreed European Parliament or Local Elections will be held to be entitled to vote (1) your name must be included on the Register of Electors which was published on 1st February or (2) you must submit an application for entry on the supplement to the register. Application for entry in the supplement should be made to the registration authority for the area in which the applicant is resident not later than the announced closing date.

Postal & Special Voter Applications

Closing date for receipt of Postal & Special Voters Applications for the 2019/2020 Register of Electors is the 25th November 2018. Once approved, a Postal vote is applicable for the duration of the Register i.e. 12 months from the 15th February.

Postal Voters List

A person registered as a postal voter may vote by post only and may not vote at a polling station. Electors must apply each year to be on the postal voters list.

Categories of Postal Voters:

Part I
Defence Forces