There's just over a week to go to register to vote in the upcoming referendum.
Around 150,000 people have not yet registered and the National Youth Council of Ireland have produced a video to show you what you need to know...
The referendum of the repeal of the Eighth Amendment will take place on May 25th.
Half a million young people in Ireland have been encouraged to check the register, as the deadline to register is on May 8th.
This includes 122,000 people who have turned 18 since the last general election.
- If you have not registered by May 8th, you will not be able to use your vote on May 25th.
- If you turn 18 between now and May 25th, you are eligable to register to vote on that date.
- You can check your status on checktheregister.ie or you can contact your local county council, Garda station, or Local Authority Office to check if you are on the register of electors.
- If you find that you are not on the register, you need to complete the RFA2 form to register and hand it into your local authorities.
- If you want to change your address on the register, you must fill out the RFA3 form and had it into your local authorities. This will remove your previous address from the register and replace it with your new one.
- If you’re in college, you’ll might have the opportunity to register on campus, as the USI are running voter registration drives across college campuses in Ireland. Check in with your Students Union for details. Forms will be provided for students on campus, and local Gardai will also be on site to stamp completed votes.
We spoke to Director of Ireland’s Youth Website Spunout.ie Ian Powerwho has this important advice for young people:
“A number of young people checking the register in the last few weeks have reported to us they have been removed since the last time they voted. If this is the case it’s really important you contact the franchise section of your local council to check for sure and you can act if needed.
We would advise everyone who wants to vote in the referendum on May 25th to check the register and make sure they’re on it by the May 8th deadline. You can visit checktheregister.ie to make sure you are registered and if not, complete the RFA2 form to register or the RFA3 form to change your address.
Any young person who turns 18 years of age on or before May 25th can register and has the right to vote in the upcoming referendum.
