Never registered to vote but got a polling card

DylanII · 30-09-2013 9:55am #1

Not sure if this is in the correct place but today I got a polling card in the post. The thing is I never registered to vote. Do I automatically get put on the register awhile after I turn 18?

I checked the register last month and I wasn't on it.

coylemj · 30-09-2013 11:58am

Somebody went to the trouble of putting you on the supplementary register. If it wasn't a member of your family then maybe it was someone who plans on impersonating you and voting on the day. Best defence is to go early yourself and vote or if you can't vote, write to the returning officer for your constituency, inform him/her that you were added to the register without your knowledge and that you will not be voting. You can find out who the returning officer is by phoning your local city or county hall.

Alternatively, ask a member of your family or household who does intend voting early to inform the presiding officer at the polling station that you do not intend to vote and that anyone who asks for a ballot paper in your name should be refused and the Garda in attendance informed.

However the two referendums on Friday next are hardly about issues for which someone would risk a convction for personation so it's a mystery as to why you're on the register.

huskerdu · 30-09-2013 12:06pm

Who do you live with ?

Some local Authorities send people door to door to check the register. I can easily happen that whoever you live with ( parents, flatmate) was asked "Is there anyone living here who should be on the register ? " and gave your name.

Cody Pomeray · 30-09-2013 2:23pm

I might be wrong here, but it can be related to having paid tax/ PRSI as well.

I'm pretty sure this was the case a few years back. I received one automatically because I had a part time job, but another sibling didn't.

Losty Dublin · 30-09-2013 3:49pm

coylemj wrote: »

Alternatively, ask a member of your family or household who does intend voting early to inform the presiding officer at the polling station that you do not intend to vote and that anyone who asks for a ballot paper in your name should be refused and the Garda in attendance informed.

Gardaí are no longer in attendance at polling stations; another victim of cutbacks in recent years. Unless they happen to pop in or if they are called to a polling station then it won't be possible to inform them.

amen · 30-09-2013 6:58pm

most likely a political party.

Where I grew up they used to get the school roll books and add everyone who was 18.

Fred Swanson · 30-09-2013 9:19pm

This post has been deleted.

Never registered to vote but got a polling card

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