Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 1377: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action required of citizens of other EU states in order to be entered into the electoral register; if an equivalent requirement is placed on Irish citizens living in other EU countries; the position regarding non-EU citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2111/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The compilation of a register of electors is a matter for the appropriate registration authority (City or County Council) in accordance with electoral law. In order to vote, a person's name must be entered on the register for a constituency in the state in which the person ordinarily resides and the person's citizenship determines the polls at which he or she is entitled to vote.

Irish citizens may vote at all polls; British citizens may vote at Dáil, European and local elections; other EU citizens may vote at European and local elections; and non-EU citizens may vote at local elections only. Electors are entered on the register according to their eligibility to vote based on information furnished by them to the registration authority: Irish citizens are shown on the register with no letter after their names; British citizens have D after their names; other EU citizens an E; and non-EU citizens the letter L. Further information in relation to the registration process may be obtained from the relevant registration authority.

EU legislation relating to voting at European Parliament elections provides that persons who are not nationals of the member state in which they reside but who meet the same conditions in respect of the right to vote as that State imposes on its own nationals have the right to vote in that member state. Within this framework, the relevant legislation provides for a system of declarations by EU citizens who are not nationals of the member state in which they reside, and of information exchange between the member states, to help ensure that no person votes more than once at such elections.