COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE 2

Monday, December 17, 2007

QUESTION NO. 4

QUESTION: Councillor M. Corr

To ask the Manager what current efforts are being made to ensure voter registration in the Tallaght South area?

REPLY:

The Draft Register of Electors for 2008/2009 was published on 1st November. It was prepared in accordance with Circular Letter-F 06-06 ( Preparing and maintaining the register).

The Register was circulated to all Post Offices, Libraries, Garda Stations, where it was available for public viewing.  It was also available to view on line at www.sdcc.ie and www.checktheregister.ie. Local T.D.’s, Senators and local public representatives were also circulated with a copy of the Draft and were asked to encourage potential electors to check the draft register during the prescribed period: 1st November 2007 to 25th November 2007. Posters and newspaper notices were circulated in the area to compliment the usual central government roadshow.

During this period the Franchise Section of SDCC continued its efforts to ensure that electors were afforded the opportunity to

a) check whether or not they are on the draft Register

b) amend their information which is incorrect

c) add their franchise details.

Through this process 1748 potential electors have made a claim to be added to the Draft Register of Electors which will be incorporated into the final Register which will come into effect on 15th February 2008.

The total number of electors on the 2008/2009 Draft Register is 174,071 (up by 2,100 electors from this time last year). A breakdown of these figures by constituency, local electoral area and polling district is available on members.net at Draft Register of Electors 2008-2009\Electoral Tables.

The final register will be produced on 1st February 2008, effective from 15th February 2008. This register will be used for franchise purposes during the period 15th February 2008 to 14th February 2009.

In the event of a referendum/election taking place during the lifetime of the register, a person who finds that they are not on the register may apply for entry to the Supplement to the Register of Electors 2008/09. To be included in the supplement, you must be:

(a)  18 years of age

(b)  ordinarily resident at the address at which you wish to be registered; and

     (c) not already registered as an elector (except in the case of a change of address)

To ensure inclusion in the supplement the completed application form must reach our offices before the fourteenth day (Sundays, public holidays and Good Friday excluded) before polling day.

The objective in compiling the Register of Electors is to ensure that all eligible voters are given an opportunity to participate in the democratic process and a high quality Register of Electors is essential to the successful operations of the electoral system. This authority will continue its work to achieve the highest possible degree of accuracy and comprehensiveness.  

It must be noted that the responsibility for ensuring the right to vote rests with the individual citizen but every opportunity is given during the compilation of the draft Register and the Supplement before a poll to ensure that potential voters have an opportunity to check that they are on the Register. In compiling the Register the objective is to ensure that all eligible voters are given an opportunity to participate in the democratic process.