Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2024
338. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage with regard to voter registration being facilitated through schools (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4110/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities, in their capacity as registration authorities, are responsible for the management and maintenance of the electoral register, and each one is now required to prepare and maintain a pending electors list. This enables the pre-registration of 16 and 17 year olds, who are then transferred to the electoral register automatically when they turn 18
A series of national and local awareness campaigns were run in 2022 and 2023 encouraging the public to visit www.checktheregister.ie to register to vote or to update their details. As part of the rollout of the campaign, assets specifically aimed at generating interest from young people were developed and circulated across youth organisations, including students’ unions and other representative groups throughout the country. The assets included fliers, posters and social/digital media adverts informing young people about pre-registration options.
Separately, local authorities engaged locally with their communities through a variety of media to generate engagement, including for some, visits to secondary schools and local groups working with young people.
Www.checktheregister.ie and voter.ie portals both offer simple and quick online application options allowing young people to easily submit requests to pre-register.
The Electoral Commission, an Coimisiún Toghcháin, is an independent statutory body which has a research, advisory and public information function. It is open to an an Coimisiún Toghcháin to engage with schools and local authorities in relation to the provision of educational and information programmes.
