Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Zappone for raising this important issue which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly.
Voter registration is an important and fundamental part of our electoral processes and the annual register is prepared at this time of year. I welcome the effort of civil society, as outlined by the Senator. It is important that all sectors in society engage with the democratic process. I welcome the opportunity to outline to the House what measures my Department is taking in this respect.
By law, the preparation of the register of electors is a matter for each local registration authority. It is their duty to ensure, in so far as possible and with the co-operation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the register. Local authorities have undertaken extensive voter registration campaigns over the years, with assistance from my Department, to ensure the electoral register is as up-to-date and as accurate as possible. Senators will be aware the draft register of electors is published annually on 1 November. Between that date and 25 November, the draft register is on display in local authority offices, post offices, Garda stations and the offices of county registrars. The public are encouraged to check the register during this time. Where new registrations or corrections to existing registrations need to be made, the public are encouraged to notify their registration authority. The process culminates in the publication of a new register on 1 February in the following year. That new register comes into force on 15 February and is used for all elections and referendums held during the following 12 months.
My Department supports an annual voter registration campaign during the period for displaying the draft register, which is between 1 and 25 November. The key message to members of the public each year is to value their vote and to take the necessary steps to ensure they are registered to vote and that their registration details are in order. People can do this by checking with their registration authority or online at the website, www.checktheregister.ie.
The following measures are being taken by my Department this year to promote voter registration. Ten thousand posters were printed and posted last month to registration authorities, Members of the Dáil, youth organisations, third level student bodies and multicultural groups. Registration authorities were asked to arrange to have these posters displayed in post offices, public libraries, Garda stations, courthouses, local authority offices and other suitable locations. Advertisements were placed last week in national daily newspapers and in other newspapers, including Seachtain. Online advertisements will be appearing on popular websites on a staggered basis during November. The home page of the Department's website will draw attention to the timelines for voter registration. The posters and the advertisements in each case encourage people to engage with the voter registration process by checking the draft register to ensure they are included it if they are over 18 years of age and that their details are correctly recorded.
I hope people will respond to the registration campaign during this time. It is important that all eligible voters are enabled to vote when elections or referendums occur. To do this they must be registered. Inevitably, some will not vote or will forget to vote. These voters will still have the opportunity to apply for inclusion in the supplement to the register for a period of time in advance of the holding of any elections or referendums.
I thank Senator Zappone for raising awareness of this matter. I agree it is essential and important that anyone entitled to vote is registered to vote. In my experience over many years, the local authority registers have contained inaccuracies and omissions. I repeat that anyone entitled to vote should register and exercise his or her vote if at all possible.