COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
MOTION NO. 21
MOTION: Councillor E. Ó'Broin
In order to increase levels of electoral registration in advance of the November 25th deadline the Clondalkin Area Committee recommends that the Manager take the following actions:
- provide electoral registration forms to all community centres, social welfare offices, HES health centres, the post office, the social welfare office and other relevant public offices in the Clondalkin LEA
- engage principals of secondary schools, youth services and youth advocacy organisations in the Clondalkin LEA to encourage 18 year olds to register
- engage community organisations in those areas with lower levels of registration and electoral participation with a view to implementing a plan to increase voter registration in these areas
- discuss with Councillors other possible ideas that could, within the short timeframe allowed, increase voter registration.
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 enquiries 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 are afforded the opportunity to
a) check whether or not they are on the draft Register
b) amend their information
c) add their details.
If a person finds they are not listed or their details are incorrect they can make a claim to correct the Draft Register. Claims are submitted on an RFA1 form and must be received by 25th November. Claims are considered and decided on by the county registrar. 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 operations 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 draft Register and the Supplement before a poll to ensure that potential voters have an opportunity to check that they are on the Register.
While it is always welcome to discuss other options, within the timeframe allowed it would not be possible to provide for any further proposals other than to make contact with relevant student representative bodies within the Clondalkin local electoral area to examine ways of encouraging the student body within the electoral area to vote.