How can you "Use Your Vote"?

Information for Dutch citizens living in Ireland

I'm a Dutch 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 the Netherlands

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 the Netherlands

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

You are a Dutch citizen,
Aged 18 years or older on the day of the Elections,
Are in full possession of your voting rights in the Netherlands and
Are registered as a voter residing outside the Netherlands.

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 would like to vote for the European Parliament, you are first required to register as a voter residing outside the Netherlands. This is possible up to six weeks before the election. Consequently you must fill out a registration form, print it out and send it together with proof of Dutch nationality. You can obtain the form from the Dutch Embassy or Consulates in Ireland, from the Civil Registration Office or find the form to register here: http://www.denhaag.nl.

Please send the registration form to the Municipality of The Hague. You may also send or hand in the registration form to the Netherlands Embassy or consulate in the country in which you are residing. The registration form must arrive at one of these authorities by 22 April at the latest. The address of the Municipality of The Hague can be found in the explanatory notes accompanying the registration form.

If you have registered as a voter residing outside the Netherlands for the European Parliamentary elections in 2004 or for the Lower House of the Dutch Parliament in 2006, your details are on the register held by the Municipality of The Hague. In this case, the registration form will automatically be sent out to you.

How can I vote in the European Elections in the Netherlands?

You may vote by post, by proxy or by casting your vote in person in the Netherlands. This can be indicated on the registration form. You can find more details on the different voting procedures on the following website:
http://www.uheefthetvoorhetzeggen.nl/

Where can you find more information?

You can find more information on the "Voting abroad" information website (www.uheefthetvoorhetzeggen.nl/) or you can get in contact with the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Dublin:

Royal Netherlands Embassy in Dublin
160 Merrion Road
Dublin 4
Tel.: 01 2693444
Fax: 01 2839690
Email: dub-info@minbuza.nl
Website: www.netherlandsembassy.ie

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