Westmeath County Council provides a comprehensive range of services which serve to enhance the quality of life of our community, one such service is the Register of Electors.
Introduction
In order to be able to vote at an election or referendum, a person's name must be entered on the register of electors for the locality in which the elector ordinarily resides. Registration authorities (county councils and city corporations) are required by law to prepare and publish a register of electors every year. The register comes into force on 15th February and is used at each election and referendum held in the succeeding 12 months.
Conditions for Registration
Age: a person must be at least 18 years of age on the day the register comes into force (15th February). Every resident aged 18 and upwards is entitled to be on the register.
Citizenship: while every adult resident is entitled to be registered, the registration authority needs to know a person's citizenship because this determines the elections at which a person may vote. The qualifying date for citizenship is the 1st September preceding the coming into force of the register. The right to vote is as follows:
* Irish citizens may vote at every election and referendum;
* British citizens may vote at Dáil, European and local elections;
* Other EU citizens may vote at European and local elections;
* Non-EU citizens may vote at local elections only.
Residence: a person must be ordinarily resident at the address in question on 1st September preceding the coming into force of the register. A person may be registered for one address only. If a person has more than one address (e.g. a person living away from home to attend college or in connection with employment), the registration authority should be told which address the person wishes to be registered for.
A person who leaves his/her ordinary residence with the intention of returning there within eighteen months can continue to be registered there, subject to the overriding condition that a person may be registered at one address only. A person who is absent on a temporary basis from his/her ordinary address, for example on holiday, in hospital or in the course of employment, should be registered at his/her ordinary address. A visitor or person staying temporarily at the address should not be registered.
