Under section 63 of the Electoral Act, 1997, registration authorities are required to enter in the postal voters' list the name of every elector who applies to be so entered and satisfies the authority that the circumstances of the electors' occupation, service or employment are such as to render it likely that he or she will be unable to go in person on polling day to vote at the polling place for the polling district. The closing date for entry in the postal voters' list is 25 November prior to the coming into force of the register of electors.
The Act specifically provides that the terms "service" and "employment" include participation by a student in a full-time course of study in an educational institution in the State.