COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, May 14, 2018
QUESTION NO.8
QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor
To ask the Chief Executive if he is satisfied that everything possible is being done to ensure that all those who are qualified to vote are being included on our Voting Register and in responding will he give an update on his thinking in respect of possible changes to the system through which the Voting Register is compiled.
REPLY:
The draft Register was published on the 1st November, 2017 and circulated to all Garda Stations, Libraries, Post Offices, County Registrar and all Councillors, TD’S and MEP’S. The draft was open for members of the public to check their details and submit any amendments. The final register was published on the 1st February 2018 and came into force on 15th February, 2018. There is a facility for those not included to make an application for their names to be added to the supplement. Once entered on the supplement they would be issued with a polling card and are then eligible to vote. The supplement is open until the 8th May, 2018 for those wishing to register to vote in the forthcoming referendum and there has been a national advertising campaign to promote the facility to check the register by May 8th to ensure as many as possible are registered to vote. To date there have been an additional 2,646 added to the supplement up to current date 3rd May, 2018. The Franchise section are processing an additional 150-200 application forms per day.
The methodology used by South Dublin County Council to compile the 2018/2019 register did not differ in any way from that used in previous years. Following the transfer to Voter.ie, it is planned that in the future an online front end portal will allow electors to manage and maintain their own registration details. This will be a much improved system for members of the public to ensure they are registered. It will operate across the four Dublin local authorities with the aim of then becoming a national system rolled out in every local authority. In the interim the four Dublin Authorities are working to agree procedures for the advertising, promotion and updating of data for the 2019/2020 Register of Electors. In order to have a uniform approach South Dublin are engaging with the other three Dublin Authorities to agree a plan for the promotion of the Register of Electors using all available communication methods, delivery of an RFA1 form to every home in the county, print media, Council web site, social media, poster campaigns in Council buildings as well as the national campaigns run by the Department to promote ‘’value your vote’’. Local promotional campaigns were previously run in the IT Tallaght in conjunction with the college, Gardaí and ACT (Active Citizenship Together Committee) to promote registration and these may be repeated as appropriate.
The objective in compiling the Register of Electors is to ensure that all eligible voters are given the opportunity to participate fully in the democratic process and a high quality register is essential to the successful operation of the electoral system.