You can check if you are registered to vote through the online Check the Register service.

Live Register

The Live Register is published on February 1st each year and comes into force on February 15th. It is used at each election and referendum held in the following 12 months. Being on the Live Register does not automatically entitle a person to vote in ALL elections. To check which elections you can vote in please check your Election Type on your personal details screen. For inclusion in the Register of Electors you must complete a RFA_Application_Form. Printed copies of the Live Register are available to be viewed at local authority offices, Post Offices, Garda stations and libraries.

Draft Register

The Draft Register is published on November 1st each year. It forms the basis of the next Live Register. You should ensure that your details are correct on the Draft Register. If these details are incorrect you should apply to have them corrected as soon as possible by completing and submitting a RFA1_Application_Form. This must be done by 25th November. Printed copies of the Draft Register are available to be viewed at local authority offices, Post Offices, Garda stations and libraries.

Postal Voters List

A postal voters list is prepared each year as part of the register of electors. Applications for inclusion in the list must be made to the Registration Authority each year before 25th November and in the case of a first application must be accompanied by a medical certificate. An elector whose name is entered in the postal voters list may only vote by post at an election or referendum.

The following categories of persons can be registered as postal voters:

• electors with a physical illness or disability who are living at home Form_PV1
• electors who are unable to vote at their polling station due to circumstances of occupation etc.: employees and students etc. Form_PV2
• whole-time members of the Defence Forces members who live in military barracks may be registered either at the barracks or at their home address;
• Irish diplomats posted abroad and their spouses - they are registered at their home address inIreland.

Members of the Garda Siochana (police force) have the option of being registered as ordinary electors or as postal voters. In either case, they are registered at their home address. An elector registered as a postal voter may vote by post only and may not vote at a polling station.

Special Voters List

Registration authorities also prepare a list of special voters as part of the register of electors. Voters with physical disabilities or illness who are residing in a Nursing Home or Hospital are included in this list. In order to qualify, an elector's physical disability must be likely to continue for the duration of the register and prevent him/her from going to the polling station to vote. To apply fill out the application form for entry into the Special Voters List Form_SV1.

Applications to be entered on the special voters list must be made to the Registration Authority by 25th November and in the case of a first application must be accompanied by a medical certificate.

Supplementary Register

If your circumstances have changed since the last Live Register was produced you may apply to be added to a Supplementary Register. The Supplementary Register is generated after an election/referendum has been announced. This allows for people who may be entitled to be included on the Register to apply for inclusion up to 14 days before Polling Day. The Supplementary Register would typically consist of electors who will be 18 years old by the date of the election/referendum or electors who have changed address since the last Live Register was published. Persons who are not registered to vote must complete the RFA2_Application_Form. Persons who are applying for a change of address must apply on the RFA3_Application_Form.