Election Management System

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 February 2015

Thursday, 26 February 2015

Ceisteanna (224)

Ruth Coppinger

Ceist:

224. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the increase in the number of naturalised citizens, if he will issue guidelines to polling staff, in the upcoming referenda, to allow those listed on the electoral register, as non-Irish citizens, to vote, where they can produce evidence of their citizenship, such as a passport, or certificate of naturalisation, at the polling station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8517/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kelly)

Under section 111(1) of the Electoral Act 1992, as applied to the taking of a poll at a referendum by section 32 of the Referendum Act 1994, only a person whose name is on the register of presidential electors for the time being in force for a constituency is entitled to vote at a referendum in that constituency. There is no provision in law for making changes to the register of electors at a polling station.

Under section 15(1) of the Electoral Act 1992, anyone who was entitled on the qualifying date – 1 September in the year prior to the register coming into force - to register as a presidential elector under section 7 of the Electoral Act 1992, but who has not done so, can apply for inclusion in the supplement to the register.