Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 November 2015
557. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the provisions in place to enable a homeless citizen to vote; and if there is no present provision, the measures he plans to introduce in time for the forthcoming Dáil Éireann election. [40175/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to vote at an election or a referendum a voter must be registered in the appropriate register of electors for that election or referendum. The Electoral Act 1992 provides for the registration of voters where they are ‘ordinarily resident’. Depending on the circumstances, the registration authority may consider it appropriate to register a homeless person at a particular hostel or shelter where they may be residing, either permanently or temporarily. While the registration of voters is a matter for the registration authorities, I would expect, in the circumstances, that they take a reasonable and commonsense approach to the inclusion of homeless persons in the register of electors.
