How can you "Use Your Vote"?
Information for British citizens living in Ireland
I'm a British 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 U.K.
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 U.K.
You can vote in the European Elections in the U.K....
If
- You are a British citizen,
- Aged 18 years or older on the day of the Elections,
- Are in full possession of your voting rights in the UK and
- Are registered as an overseas voter (only possible if you have been registered in the UK in the last 15 years).
How can I check if I'm registered in the voting register and how can I enrol? Is there a deadline for registration?
Every British citizen who has been registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years is eligible to vote in European Parliament Elections in the UK. If you were too young to register when you left the UK, you can still register as an overseas voter so long as your parent or guardian was registered to vote in the UK. You can find more information on how to register on the website of the British Electoral Commission (www.aboutmyvote.co.uk).
How can I vote in the European Elections in the U.K.?
To participate in the European Election 2009 in the UK, you can choose between three options:
• If you’re in the UK on Election Day, you can always vote in person at a polling station,
• If you are abroad you can apply to vote by post, although there may be a rather short time in which to return your ballot paper to the UK or
• If you are abroad you can apply to vote by proxy (someone voting on your behalf).
To find more information for each of those options, please visit the website of the British Electoral Commission (www.aboutmyvote.co.uk).
Where can you find more information?
You can find more information on the website of the British Electoral Commission (www.aboutmyvote.co.uk) or you can get in contact with the British Embassy in Ireland:
British Embassy
29 Merrion Road
Ballsbridge
Dublin 4
Tel. : (01) 205 3700
Website:
You can also download the information provided on this webpage as an information flyer
