How can I Vote?

Cork County Council has a rolling register of electors.  The Register is used at each election and referendum. In order to be able to vote at an Election or Referendum, a person’s name must be entered on the Register of Electors for the locality in which they ordinarily reside. 

You can apply to register or update your details at any time. However, where an election or referendum has been formally called, the latest date for receipt of applications by your local authority is 15 days before that electoral event. Sundays, public holidays and Good Friday are not counted as days for this purpose.

If your local authority does not get your form or online update on time it won't be considered for that election or referendum. Different deadlines apply if you wish to apply for a postal vote or to be added to the special voters list. 

Age

Every resident aged 18 years and upwards is entitled to be on the register. A person may register from the age of 16 years of age; however, they will not be able to vote until they are 18.

Residence

A person must be ordinarily resident in the state and at the address at which they wish to be registered.

No Fixed Abode

If you have no fixed address, you can still register online at www.checktheregister.ie or by completing an ERF1 form. Please contact us if you would like further information franchise@corkcoco.

Citizenship

• Irish Citizens: May vote at every election and referendum
• British Citizens: May vote at Dáil and Local Elections only
• Other EU Citizens: May vote at European & Local Elections only
• Non - EU Citizens: May vote at Local Elections only
  
   

The closing date for postal voters to be included in the supplement is two days after the order for an election or referendum is signed. An elector whose name is entered in the Postal Voters List may vote by post only at an election or referendum, and may not vote at a polling station.

The following categories of persons can be registered as postal voters:

• Electors with a physical illness who are living at home
• Electors who are unable to vote at their polling station, due to circumstances of occupation
• Whole-time members of the Defence Forces. Members who live in military barracks may be registered either at the barracks or at their home address
• Irish diplomats posted abroad, and their spouses where they are registered at their home address in Ireland
• Members of the Garda Síochána (Irish police force) have the option of being registered as ordinary electors or as postal voters. In either case, they are registered at their home address
• Persons unable to vote in person because of the circumstances, such as their detention in prison, pursuant to an Order of a Court.

A new application for every category above must be submitted each year.

An elector registered as a postal voter may vote by post only and may not vote at a polling station.

You can inspect the register online www.checktheregister.ie or in the offices of Cork County Council.

All applications forms can be downloaded from the link below.

The making of a Polling Scheme is a reserved function of the Council and schemes must be updated at least every 10 years or in the event of any electoral boundary changes. The Register of Electors is then produced in accordance with the districts defined within the Scheme. The Polling Scheme was made by Cork County Council by resolution on 22nd February 2021. This Scheme is effective from the 01st of April 2021

The Polling Scheme can be viewed during normal office hours at the office of:

• Cork County Council Headquarters, County Hall, Carrigrohane Road, T12R2NC, Tel:  021-4276891

or to download from the following link: Polling Scheme for the County of Cork (pdf).

Registering to vote is governed by the Electoral Act 1992 and is available on the Irish Statute Book, or in hard copy from the Government Publications Sales Office, in Dublin. Their address is as follows:

Government Publications Sales Office,

Sun Alliance House,

Molesworth Street,

Dublin 2. Eircode: D02 RF29.

Tel: (01) 647 6879.

More information on voting in Ireland can be found on the Voting Section of the Gov.ie website.

You can ask a question about the Electoral Register by using the Electoral Register Enquiry online form.

Useful Information booklets

How Local Authorities are Elected Information Booklet in English and Irish.

Register of Electors Information Booklet in English and Irish.

Contact Us:

Franchise Section,

Cork County Council,

County Hall,

Carrigrohane Road,

Cork, Ireland.

Eircode: T12 R2NC

Email: franchise@corkcoco.ie

Tel: 021-4285586