Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 213: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if non-consultant hospital doctors who are attached to hospitals, and who rotate from hospital to hospital every six months during training are entitled to a postal vote in local and European elections in view of the fact that a number of those doctors may be listed for a 12 to 24 hour on-call shift coinciding with election day. [6853/09]

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 214: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if persons working in Dublin, Cork and Galway while their home address is still their permanent address are entitled to postal votes; and the persons entitled to postal votes. [6854/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 214 together.

In order to be able to vote at elections and referenda in this jurisdiction, a person's name must be entered in the register of electors for a constituency in the State in which the person ordinarily resides. Postal voting is provided for in electoral law in respect of certain categories of person who are entered in the register of electors. The Electoral Act 1992 provides for postal voting by wholetime members of the Defence Forces, members of the Garda, and Irish diplomats serving abroad and their spouses.

Subsequent legislation enacted by the Oireachtas has extended postal voting to other categories: electors living at home who are unable to vote because of a physical illness or a physical disability (the Electoral (Amendment) Act 1996); electors whose occupation, service or employment makes it likely that they will be unable to vote in person at their local polling station on polling day — in these cases, the law provides for completion of the necessary voting documentation at a Garda station (the Electoral Act 1997); full-time students registered at their home who are living elsewhere while attending an educational institution in the State (the Electoral Act 1997); certain election staff employed at the poll outside the constituency where they reside (the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2001); and electors who because of the circumstances of their detention in prison pursuant to an order of a court are likely to be unable to go in person on polling day to vote (the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2006).

Persons wishing to apply for entry on the supplement to the postal voters list for the upcoming Local and European elections should contact their relevant registration authority (city or county council) without delay.

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 215: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will ensure that an application form for registration is available on the website of every local authority to facilitate young people completing their application to be included on the register of electors. [6855/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In law, the preparation of the Register of Electors is a matter for each local registration authority. It is their duty to ensure, as far as possible and with the cooperation of the public, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the Register.

Authorities were required to publish the final Register for 2009/10 by 1 February 2009 and this is now available for checking. Individuals not on the Register can avail of the supplement to the Register up until 15 days before the next polling day i.e. Monday 18 May in the case of the Local and European elections being held on 5 June 2009. The relevant supplement application form is available for download from www.checktheregister.ie and my Department has requested all registration authorities to ensure that it is also available from their websites.