About the Register

About Register of Electors

Sligo County Council is responsible for the preparation of the Register of Electors for the whole of County Sligo.  The County is divided into three Electoral Areas, as follows:

  • Municipal District of Ballymote–Tubbercurry
  • Municipal District of Sligo-Drumcliff
  • Borough District of Sligo

The Electoral Reform Act, 2022, which was signed into law by the President on 25 July 2022, provides the legislative basis for the preparation of a Rolling Register, which allows updates or additions at any time of the year.  Effectively, the process of a draft, final and supplement is being replaced by a single live and continuously updated Register.

Only persons whose names appear on the Register will be entitled to vote in Referenda and/or Dáil, Local Government and/or European Assembly Elections.  The Register of Electors is available for inspection at Sligo County Council Offices, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo, and online at www.checktheregister.ie 

A person can apply to register or update their details at any time.  However, if an election or referendum has been called, the latest date for receipt of applications is 15 days before polling day (Sundays, public holidays and Good Friday are excluded).  If a person’s application is late, it can’t be considered for that election or referendum.

 

Easy to Read Guide to Voting - 534 kbs  PDF

Eligibility

Any person who is 18 years of age or over, and who is not currently registered as an elector in County Sligo or elsewhere, is eligible to apply for inclusion.  The address given must be their full-time normal place of residence.

The 2022 Act introduced a process of pre-registration for 16 and 17 year olds, meaning that, once they reach the age of 18, they will be automatically added to the Electoral Register, i.e. a person may register from the age of 16 years of age, however, they will not be able to vote until they are 18).

If you have no fixed address, you can still register to vote (see below).

 

Applying for Registration

Each person must be aware of, and responsible for, their own registration.  You can apply to have your name included on the Register via either of the following ways:

  • Online at checktheregister.ie - You may apply for inclusion or update your details on the Register of Electors by visiting www.checktheregister.ie You will be required to provide your PPSN, date of birth and eircode.  These details will help local authorities to ensure that entries are accurate and up to date as well as enabling the identification of entries on the register that require follow up.  However, details such as PPSNs, date of birth, etc. will never appear on the published Register.
  • By completion of a hard copy application form, i.e. ERF1 Electoral Registration Form (PDF) - 672 kbs    This form also requires the provision of a PPSN, date of birth and eircode.  However, if you do not provide a PPSN, or if your local authority cannot match your PPSN (from a previous application), you will need to take this form and your photographic identification (ID) to your local Garda station or your local authority, where your ID document can be checked and your identity confirmed.  If you are unable to attend your local Garda station or local authority due to illness or disability, you must have your form certified by a registered medical practitioner.

If you have no fixed address, you can register online at www.checktheregister.ie or by completing an ERF2 No Fixed Address Form (PDF) - 700 kbs  

 

Citizenship

Every adult resident in the State is entitled to be registered to vote; their citizenship determines the type of elections that they are eligible to vote in.

Irish – Irish citizens may vote at every Election and Referendum

British – British citizens may vote at Dáil and Local Elections

British/EU – British/EU citizens may vote at Dáil, European and Local Elections

EU – European citizens may vote at European and Local Elections

Potential EU – Potential European citizens may vote at Local Elections

Non EU – Non European citizens may vote at Local Elections

 

Removal of Names

Sligo County Council tries insofar as possible to ensure that the Register is kept up-to-date.  However, because people are constantly on the move, it can be quite difficult to keep the Register completely accurate.  Names are removed from the Register by the Registration Authority for the following reasons:

  • Elector is deceased.
  • It has been brought to the Council’s attention that an elector is/was no longer resident at the address at which they are registered.
  • Polling cards were returned undelivered and marked “Gone Away”, “Unknown at this Address”, etc.

A clear process has been put in place to remove people from the Register where the local authority considers it necessary for a complete and accurate Register. 

 

Postal Voters and Special Voters

Postal Voters Lists

If you are unable to go in person to a Polling Station to vote on the day of an Election or Referendum, you may be entitled to apply for a Postal Vote.  The types of electors who can register for a Postal Vote are:

  • Members of the Defence Forces – form available on request
  • Irish Diplomats working abroad (and their partner/spouse with Irish citizenship) - form available on request
  • Members of An Garda Síochána - form available on request
  • Persons detained in Prison – form available on request
  • Persons unable to go to a polling station due to illness or disability ( PV2 Illness or Disability Form (PDF) - 649 kbs )
  • Persons who are working on the day of an election/referendum and cannot attend their local polling station, e.g. full-time students studying away from home, polling staff, or persons working away from home, etc ( PV4 Student or Work purposes (PDF) - 670 kbs )
  • A person whose safety may be at risk if their details are published (this also applies to people living with such persons). Such persons can apply to become anonymous electors ( PV7 Anonymous Elector (PDF) - 687 kbs )

Applications for postal votes may require documentary evidence to be submitted in support of eligibility (please see application form for details).  An elector registered as a postal voter may vote by post only and may not vote at a polling station.

Please note that eligibility for a postal vote does not apply to persons who are out of the Country on holiday at the time of an Election or Referendum.

 

Special Voters List

Electors who are residing full-time in a nursing home, hospital or similar institution, and are unable to go to their local polling station due to illness or disability, can apply to have their name added to the Special Voters List by completing an SV1 Special Voters List (PDF) - 659 kbs    There is a section on the application form that must be completed by a registered medical practitioner. Electors included on the Special Voters List will be able to vote where they live, e.g. if they live in a nursing home, they can vote there on polling day.

 

Contact Details

For any queries in relation to the Register of Electors, or to obtain an application form, please contact the Corporate Services Department, Sligo County Council, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo, by telephoning 071 9111012 or via email to mbruen@sligococo.ie