COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, March 11, 2019

QUESTION NO. 23

QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons

To ask the Chief Executive to have an social media campaign and other formats to encourage people to vote in the upcoming local and European elections , how does SDCC propose to encourage people to vote?

REPLY:

The draft register for 2019/2020 was published on the 1st November, 2018 and was circulated to all Garda Stations, Libraries, Post Offices, County Registrar and all Councillors, TD’S and MEP’S. The draft was open up to the 25th November 2018 for members of the public to check their details and submit any amendments. In conjunction with the publication of the draft, the Council will develop and implement a Communications Campaign on Valuing Your Vote that will use all available communication methods including print media, the Council web site, social media, poster campaigns in Council buildings and on bus shelters within the county as well as supporting national campaigns led by the Department to promote and to alert citizens to check the register. On social media, the Council will utilise Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to reach as wide a target audience as possible.

Registration forms are available on our website and in Libraries across the county to assist those wishing to register. The live register was published on the 1st February 2019.

In order to assist migrants the Council have all the relevant forms on our web site in a number of different languages. The Department of Planning Housing and Local Government have initiated a national awareness campaign in relation to the whole registration process in conjunction with the Immigrant Council of Ireland in advance of the Local Elections.  Currently videos have been created in ten different languages on their website with information on how to vote and it is aimed at every citizen of Ireland. Also during the New Citizens Ceremonies the Department of Justice and Equality provide information packs to all new citizens with details on how to register to vote.