COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 21, 2015

QUESTION NO.20

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

To ask the Chief Executive to confirm his plans to encourage as many residents as possible to register for the Register of Electors 2015/2016 appreciating that this particular Register is due to be published in February in advance of the scheduled date for the General Election and also noting the importance of encouraging such additional registration following the success of the process in respect of the Referendums last May.

REPLY:

The Register of Electors 2016/17 will be published on 1st February 2016, and will come into force on 15th February 2016 and will be available for checking online at www.checktheregister.ie. It will also be distributed to local Post Offices, Libraries and Garda stations and Council Offices in South Dublin's administrative area. 

The Council's Corporate Services Department , and the Social Inclusion Unit in conjunction with ACT (Active Citizenship Together Committee) organise Voting Registration Drives and all Community Groups are contacted in advance of these drives to encourage greater participation in the electoral process. Registration forms are also sent to the 32 Secondary Schools in our administrative area. There will also be timely advertisements, entitled “Your Right to Vote “ placed in all Local Newspapers and Council Buildings, and a National Campaign will be undertaken to promote public awareness to coincide with the publication of the Draft Register on 1st November 2015.

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. The door to door fieldwork which is an integral part of this process is currently underway on the updating of the Draft Register in advance of the forthcoming General Election. All eligible electors who were added to the Supplement to the Register of Electors in May this year will be automatically included in the Draft Register.

This Authority will continue its work to achieve the highest possible degree of accuracy and comprehensiveness in compiling the Register of Electors and will continue to promote its “Value your vote” campaigns and Registration Drives to ensure maximum participation in the registration process.