How can you "Use Your Vote"?

Information for German citizens living in Ireland

I'm a German 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 Germany

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 Germany

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

You are a German citizen,
Aged 18 years or older on the day of the Elections,
Are in full possession of your voting rights in Germany and
Are enrolled in an Electoral register in Germany.

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

If you are living abroad and are not registered with a place of residency in Germany you have to apply for enrolment in your last home municipality in Germany. To do so a written application has to be submitted on a special form. This can be downloaded from the webpage of the Bundeswahlleiter (www.bundeswahlleiter.de) or can be obtained from the German Embassy. This form has to be received by the competent electoral authority in Germany on 17 May at the latest.

How can I vote in the European Elections in Germany?

After German citizens living abroad and eligible to vote have been entered in the register of voters, they will be provided with the documents required for a postal vote about one month before the day of the election. The voters have to return these papers to the authorities indicated on the ballot-envelope in good time for this authority to receive them at the latest by 6 p.m. on the day of the election (7 June).

Where can you find more information?

You can find more information and forms on the website of the Bundeswahlleiter (www.bundeswahlleiter.de) or you can get in contact with the German Embassy in Ireland:

German Embassy
31 Trimleston Avenue
Booterstown
Blackrock
Co. Dublin
Tel. : (01) 269 3011 - or -3772
Fax: (01) 269 3946
E-mail: info@dublin.diplo.de
Website: www.dublin.diplo.de

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