How can you "Use Your Vote"?
Information for Austrian citizens living in Ireland
I'm an Austrian citizen living in Ireland. Can I participate in the 2009 European Elections?
Yes, you can participate in the European Elections 2009. You have two options:
- You can vote in the European Elections in Ireland
or - You can vote in the European Elections in Austria
Please be aware that you can only choose one of the above options.
How can I participate in the European Elections in Ireland?
You can participate in the European Elections 2009 in Ireland, if
- You are citizen of an EU Member State,
- Were 18 years or older on the day of the Elections,
- Have been resident in Ireland since before 1 September 2008 and
- Are enrolled on the voting register the "Irish Register of Electors".
If you have registered in Ireland previously you can check if you are registered to vote in the European Elections at the offices of the registration authority and at public libraries, post offices and Garda stations(during working hours). You can also check the register online at www.checktheregister.ie.
If you are not already included in the Register for Electors, you can apply for entry into the supplement to the register. To do so you have to fill in an application form (RFA2), which you can obtain from you City/County Council or download from the "check the register" website (http://www.checktheregister.ie/Portals/128/RFA2%20English%20-%20form.pdf)
As an EU citizen you also have to fill in a form for registration as a European Elector (Form EP1) which you can obtain from your City/County Council or download from the following website: http://www.dlrcoco.ie/gp/European_Elector_Form.pdf
Your application form (RFA2) must be witnessed by a member of the Garda Síochána or, if you cannot go to your local Garda station, by an official of your local county or city council provided you state the reason why you were unable to attend a Garda Station.
Your application for entry in the supplement has to be received by your responsible registration authority at least 15 working days before polling day in order to be considered for the European Elections. Therefore your application has to be received by 18 May 2009.
Be aware:
You can only vote in one country
Ireland OR Austria
You can vote in the European Elections in Austria...
If
- You are an Austrian citizen,
- Aged 16 years or older on the day of the Elections,
- Are in full possession of your voting rights in Austria and
- Are registered in the Austrian national voters register.
How can I check if I'm registered in the Austrian voters register?
To participate in the European Elections 2009, you have to be enrolled on the Austrian national voters register. Therefore you have to be enrolled in the communal voters register which is compiled from the communal address register.
If you leave Austria to live abroad, you remain registered for ten years in the communal voters register at your last place of residency. After ten years you have to re-enrol in the voters register for the next ten years at the commune in which you were last resident in Austria.
Please contact the local community of your last place of residence in Austria to enquire if you are still enrolled in the voters register.
How can I enrol/re-enrol myself into the Austrian voters register and is there a deadline to do so?
If you want to enrol/re-enrol yourself on the voters register you can obtain the necessary form on the website of the Austrian Foreign Ministry (www.ep2009.at) or from the Austrian Embassy in Ireland. You can enrol/re-enrol in the voters register at any time but in order to participate in the European Elections 2009, you have to register by 30 April 2009.
How can I vote in the European Elections in Austria?
To participate in the European Elections you have to ask the city council, where you are enrolled, for a voter card. You can download the necessary form on the website of the Austrian Foreign Ministry (www.ep2009.at).
Where can you find more information?
You can find more information on the website of the Austrian Foreign Ministry (www.ep2009.at) or you can get in contact with the Austrian Embassy in Ireland:
Austrian Embassy
15 Ailesbury Court
93 Ailesbury Road
Ballsbridge
Dublin 4
Tel.: (01) 269 4577
Fax: (01) 283 0860
E-mail: dublin-ob@bmeia.gv.at
You can also download the information provided on this webpage as an information flyer
