Electoral law provides that an application for inclusion in the supplement to the Register of Electors must be signed by the applicant in the presence of a member of An Garda Siochana from the applicant's local Garda station who must first be satisfied as to the person's identity before signing, dating and stamping the form. The Garda may request photographic or other identification. Where the applicant establishes in writing that he/she is unable to progress the application in this way, the form can be signed by the applicant in the presence of an official of the registration authority who is satisfied as to his or her identity. Again, photographic or other identification may be required. If neither option is viable due to physical illness or physical disability, the application form must be accompanied by a medical certificate.
Current guidance for Local Returning Officers is that 25% of voters should have their ID checked at polling stations.
Work on scoping potential improvements to the electoral registration process is underway in my Department. This work is looking at, among other things, proposals made by the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht in its report of the consultation on the proposed Electoral Commission in 2016.
While the current registration system has served us well, there is potential to modernise the registration process and to make it more streamlined and accessible for electors and for those administering the system. We need to ensure, on the one hand, that everyone entitled to be on the register is registered and that their information is accurate, and on the other hand, that appropriate measures are in place to counteract any possible abuses. The management of identity verification is a crucial element in the overall integrity of the register and will be the subject of detailed consideration to ensure we find the correct balance between efficiency and accessibility and the need for robust systems we can continue to rely on.
Conscious of the importance of the register and its role in our democracy and the need to ensure security and integrity are key priorities for any changes being considered, the process being planned is expected to take 2-3 years to complete. This will include a significant consultation element at an early stage, currently anticipated in the Autumn, which will offer an opportunity to all relevant stakeholders, including the public, to contribute.
