COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, December 09, 2013
MOTION NO.2
MOTION: Councillor M. Devine
To enhance and promote voter registration/participation that this Council, in conjunction with Student Union body, consider a visible registration drive - on campus - at the various third level education facilities within the County
REPORT:
The Draft Register of Electors 2014/15 was recently published following the comprehensive annual review process.
The fieldwork for the annual update of the Register of Electors commenced last June and door-to-door enquires were carried out. Information received at the door was used to compile the Draft Register. If there was no reply at the door an application form for registration was left at the house for completion by householder.
The Draft Register is also available for checking online at www.checktheregister.ie. It is also circulated to local Post Offices, Libraries and Garda stations in South Dublin's administrative area. Advertisements are placed in the local papers. During the period of 1st November to 25th November members of the public were afforded the opportunity to
a) check whether or not they are on the draft Register
b) amend their information
c) add their details.
The final register will be published on 1st February 2014 and will come into force on 15th February 2014. This register will then be used for any elections/referendums to be held during the period 15th February 2014 to 14th February 2015.
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. To be included in the supplement, you must be:
(a) 18 years of age (up to and including polling day)
(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)
In anticipation of the Referendums held on 4th October last, the fieldworkers were instructed to inform the householder, during their door-to-door enquiries, about the preparation of the Supplement and the necessity to apply for inclusion if not already registered. Each fieldworker carried a supply of supplement application forms (RFA2/3) to facilitate the elector. If there was no reply at the door a note of information regarding the supplement was left at the house together with the RFA form for next year's register.
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 operation of the electoral system.
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 Register and the Supplement before a poll to ensure that potential voters have an opportunity to check that they are on the Register.
If the Members agree the motion, in addition to the above contact will be made with relevant student representative bodies in the County's Institutions to examine ways of encouraging the student body within the County to register to vote.