Register of Electors

To vote in an election or referendum your name must be included on the Register of Electors for the area where you ordinarily live.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are registered to vote and that your details on the Register of Electors are correct on www.voter.ie .

Before an election or referendum, applications to register or update details on the Register of Electors must be received by a statutory deadline, which is generally 15 days before polling day excluding Sundays, public holidays and Good Friday. To avoid disappointment, you should check your registration details well in advance of any electoral event.

Who Can Vote?

Anyone aged 18 years or over and ordinarily resident in Ireland is entitled to be included on the Register of Electors. While all eligible residents may register, voting rights depend on citizenship.

Voting Rights

Irish citizens may vote in all elections and referendums.
British citizens may vote in Dáil and Local Elections.
EU citizens may vote in European and Local Elections.
Non-EU citizens may vote in Local Elections only.

How Do I Register to Vote?

The quickest and easiest way to register to vote or update your details is online at www.voter.ie.

Paper application forms can also be downloaded from www.voter.ie or requested from Louth County Council by emailing register@louthcoco.ie.

Completed forms can be returned by:

Post: Franchise Section, Louth County Council, County Hall, Millennium Centre, Dundalk, Co. Louth, A91 KFW6, or

Email: register@louthcoco.ie

When Can I Register to Vote?

Anyone aged 18 or over and living in County Louth can use www.voter.ie to register to vote or update their details. Young people aged 16 and 17 can also pre-register and will be automatically added to the Register of Electors when they reach the age of 18.

How Do I Update or Check My Details on the Register?

The quickest and easiest way to check or update your details on the register is online at www.voter.ie. It is your responsibility to ensure that your details are correct on the register.

Special Voting Arrangements

Most voters must vote in person at their designated polling station. However, some people may be eligible for a postal or special vote.

Who Can Apply for a Postal or Special Vote?

You may be eligible for a postal vote if you are:

An Irish diplomat posted abroad, or their spouse, civil partner or partner living abroad with them.
A full-time member of the Defence Forces.

You may also qualify for a postal vote if you are unable to attend your polling station because:

You have an illness or disability.
You are studying full-time at an educational institution in Ireland and are living away from the address where you are registered.
Your occupation, service or employment prevents you from attending your polling station.
You are in prison under a court order.
You are a member of An Garda Síochána.
You are registered as an anonymous elector or are a member of the household of an anonymous elector.

If you are registered as a postal voter you can only vote by post and cannot vote in person at a polling station.

Special Voters

You may qualify to be included on the Special Voters List if you live in a hospital, nursing home or similar institution and wish to vote there on polling day.

If you are applying to be included on the Special Voters List for the first time you must submit a medical certificate with your application.

How can I Apply for a Postal or Special Vote?

Application forms for postal and special votes can be downloaded from www.voter.ie or requested by emailing register@louthcoco.ie.

Applications for postal and special votes cannot be submitted online.

Completed forms should be returned to: Franchise Section, Louth County Council, County Hall, Millennium Centre, Dundalk, Co. Louth, A91 KFW6

Maintaining the Register of Electors

Louth County Council is responsible for maintaining the Register of Electors for County Louth. The register is regularly reviewed and updated to help ensure it remains accurate and up-to-date. As part of this process Authorised Field Officers may call to households to confirm details relating to eligible electors living at a property. Field Officers will carry official identification and will only request information required for the maintenance of the Register of Electors, such as the names of residents aged 18 years or over who are eligible to vote.

From time-to-time Louth County Council may also issue correspondence to addresses listed on the register to confirm that electors are still resident at that address and remain eligible to vote in electoral events. If you receive such correspondence, please follow the instructions provided to confirm your details.

Failure to respond to requests for information may result in your details being removed from the Register of Electors. If your name is not included on the register you will not be entitled to vote in electoral events.