COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, February 10, 2014
QUESTION NO.
QUESTION: Councillor C. King
To ask the Manager to produce an information/educational item to be placed on sdcc.ie informing 'foreign nationals' of their voting rights in the upcoming local and European elections and also to inform them how to check the register and how to exercise their franchise?
REPLY:
The Register of Electors 2014/15 was published on 1st February 2014, comes into force on 15th February and is available for checking online at www.checktheregister.ie. It will also be distributed to local Post Offices, Libraries and Garda stations in South Dublin's administrative area together with an information poster regarding the supplement to the register which will be prepared for the European and Local Elections. Application for entry onto the supplement is made by completing supplement application RFA2 or RFA3 (change of address) as appropriate. A separate form must be completed and signed by each person applying for inclusion in the supplement. The form must be witnessed, signed and stamped by a member of the Garda Síochána. Supplement application forms are available on our website www.sdcc.ie and online at www.checktheregister.ie. They will also be available in post offices, garda stations, libraries and council offices.
To ensure inclusion in the supplement that will be prepared for the European and Local Elections to be held on 23rd May 2014 the closing date for receipt of completed supplement application forms is 6th May 2014. Applications for inclusion on the supplement to the Postal and Special Voters' list is 26th April 2014.
Comprehensive information is at present available on the Council's website regarding the registration process in a total of 17 languages including the following: – Arabic, Chinese, Czech, English, French, German, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak and Spanish. A link to the search facility for the newly published Register of Electors is also available.
The four Dublin Local Authorities are at present planning a Voter Registration Poster campaign entitled 'Your Dublin, Your Vote' targeting the new communities. The Council's Social Inclusion Unit in partnership with the Corporate Services Department is also organising two events to take place in Clondalkin and Tallaght during March (dates to be confirmed). Information regarding this intiative will be posted on the Council website.