Ms Petra Woods:

I will start with the use of PPSNs. The Senator is right that the Electoral Reform Act gives the legal basis for the use of the PPSN in the registration process. As regards the identity check, there are three ways in which a person can identify themselves for engagement with the register. The first is through myGovID if they are doing so online. At the moment that is only available in the Dublin region through voter.ie but it will ultimately be available to everybody. The second is the one that is used most on checktheregister.ie, although it is also available on voter.ie, and that is by providing the PPSN. The third option is to have an in-person identity check, that is, to turn up to a registration authority with some photo ID. Those three options were chosen because they gave the full spectrum of a reasonable check on identity. It is for new and existing people on the register, so anyone wishing to register for the first time and anyone wanting to update their details. The reason it is considered important for people who are already on the register is that people move or change address. We need to allow local authorities to confirm entries that people are happy with that are current and correct, and then they can focus their efforts on those where there is no confirmation. That is why it applies to everybody.

Regarding 16 and 17-year-olds, those provisions have been commenced, so 16 and 17-year-olds can now pre-register through voter.ie or checktheregister.ie. We focused on them to some degree in our awareness campaigns. We provided posters and assets that focused very much on young people. It is a relatively slow uptake but I know the commission has plans in that regard.

In terms of people with no address, we made provision to provide for a situation where a person has no premises at which they are resident when they wish to register to vote. In consultation with an organisation that was looking to do a campaign with people with no address we came to the realisation that the flexibility and ease with which people can now update their details works for a large number of people. These provisions are now also active for those with no address and it can be done on checktheregister.ie. It is available online and there is also a paper form.