Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2024
385. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if those seeking to avail of a postal vote due to illness must pay for a certificate stating they are not fit to vote in person from a general practitioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18734/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities, in their capacity as registration authorities, are responsible for the management and maintenance of the electoral register.
Under the provisions introduced under Part III of the Electoral Reform Act 2022, rolling or continuous electoral registration (in contrast to the former annual registration process) means that people can register or update their details, including by submitting postal vote applications at any time of year up to the usual deadlines in advance of an electoral event.
Applications for a postal vote due to illness or disability must be certified by a registered medical practitioner to enable the registration authority consider and be satisfied that the applicant is unable to attend their polling station to vote on polling day due to their illness or disability as provided for under Section 14(d) of the Electoral Act 1992 as amended. The certifying medical practitioner no longer needs to provide the nature of the illness or disability, but can indicate an expected duration, which the registration authority will have regard to when assigning a postal voting arrangement. This means that for those people with longer term or ongoing issues, annual renewal will not necessarily be required.
The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future contains a commitment to examine the use of postal voting, with a view to expanding its provision. In support of this commitment I wrote to An Coimisiún Toghcháin in July 2023, and outlined a number of issues that An Coimisiún might include in its initial research programme. This included the commitment in the Programme for Government relating to postal voting. An Coimisiún’s draft research programme, published on 10 November 2023, included a proposal to examine the issue of postal voting. Once An Coimisiún has completed its work and made recommendations on the issue of postal voting further consideration will be given to this and related issues.
