How can you "Use Your Vote"?

Information for Estonian citizens living in Ireland

I'm an Estonian 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 Estonia

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 Estonia

You can vote in the European Elections in Estonia...

You are an Estonian citizen,
Aged 18 years or older on the day of the Elections,
Are in full possession of your voting rights in Estonia and
Are registered in the Estonian population register.

How can I check if I'm registered in the voting register and how can I enrol? Is there a deadline for registration?

To participate in the European Elections in Estonia, you have to be enrolled in the Estonian population register. The chief processor of the population register shall organise the preparation and despatch of voter cards to voters not later than the twentieth day (18 May) before the day of the Elections. If an EU citizen is not registered in the Estonian population register, he/she may submit a request to be entered in a polling list to the chief processor of the population register not later than on the thirtieth day (8 May) before the day of the Elections.

How can I vote in the European Elections in Estonia?

Voting in foreign states shall be organised by Representations of the Republic of Estonia. If the address of a voter who resides permanently in a foreign state or is staying in a foreign state temporarily is known, the Representation shall send the voter card to him or her by post or e-mail not later than eighty-five days before Election Day.

In general you can choose to vote by post, to vote in the Embassy or to use electronic voting:
In order to vote by post, you will have to send an application to vote by post to the Estonian Embassy. This application must be received by the Embassy not later than on the thirtieth day (8 May) before the day of the Elections. The ballot papers sent by post must be received by a Representation not later than by the date determined by the Representation so that the National Electoral Committee would receive the ballot papers by 24 May.
In order to use Electronic voting, you may vote on the website of the National Electoral Committee from the 28 May until 3 June. In the Estonian Embassy electronic voting is available on 2 June (10am - 2pm) and on 3 June (10am - 2pm).
If you do not submit an application to vote by post, or do not send a ballot paper to a Representation of Estonia by the due date, you may vote at the Representation at a time determined by the latter. A Representation shall allow voting at the Representation on at least two days in the interim between fifteen days and ten days before Election Day. In the Estonian Embassy in Dublin (see details below) you will be able to vote on 24 May (12pm - 4pm) and on 25 May (10pm - 4pm).

Where can you find more information?

You can find more information on the website of the Estonian National Electoral Commission (www.vvk.ee) or you can get in contact with the Estonian Embassy in Ireland:

Estonian Embassy

Riversdale House
St. Ann's, Ailesbury Rd
Dublin 4
Tel.: (01) 219 6730
Fax: (01) 219 6731
e-mail: embassy.dublin@mfa.ee
Website: www.estemb.ie

You can also download the information provided on this webpage as an information flyer