How can you "Use Your Vote"?

Information for Hungarian citizens living in Ireland

I'm a Hungarian 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 Hungary

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 Hungary

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

You are a Hungarian citizen,
Aged 18 years or older on the day of the Elections,
Are in full possession of your voting rights in Hungary and
Are registered to vote at the Embassy of the Republic of Hungary.

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 2009 in Hungary you have to be enrolled in the register of the Embassy of the Republic of Hungary. Inclusion in the register at Foreign Representations may be requested by voters included in the register of their domicile personally or through a delegate having an authorisation enshrined in a private deed with conclusive force from the head of the local election office of their place of domicile before the 30th day prior to voting (7 May). Requests for inclusion in the register at foreign Representations may be submitted also by registered mail in such fashion that it shall have been received by the local election office the latest before the 30th day prior to voting.
If you want to check if you are registered, you have to check you local register of voters. The register of voters shall be publicly displayed 60 days before the day of voting, for eight days, and the time shall be announced the way it is customary locally. Voters shall be informed of their entry in the register before the 58th day prior to the day of voting the latest by sending them an information notice. The voter who has not received the information notice may inquire at the local election office.

How can I vote in the European Elections in Hungary?

The voters can exercise their right to vote only in person and, with the exceptions referred to in law, only at the polling station designated for the voter’s place of domicile or - if they preregistered at their local election office in Hungary - at Hungarian Representations (Embassies/General Consulates) abroad.

Where can you find more information?

You can find more information on the website of the National Election Office (www.valasztas.hu) or you can get in contact with the Embassy of the Republic of Hungary:

Embassy of the Republic of Hungary
2 Fitzwilliam Place
Dublin 2
Phone: (01) 661 2902
Fax: (01) 661 2880
E-mail: mission.dub@kum.hu
Website: www.mfa.gov.hu/emb/dublin

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