THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT has clarified some details on the Register of Electors to TheJournal.ie this lunchtime.

If a general election takes place before February 15

If a general election takes place before February 15th, the register in effect will be the current Register of Electors. This remains in force until February 14. Therefore, voters already registered do not need to seek re-registration.

The current Register of Electors can be checked online at www.checktheregister.ie.

People not included in the current register and who wish to register for a vote in a prospective general election (if it takes place before February 15), will therefore need to apply to be included on a special supplement to the register, which is produced before any election or referendum.

To be included on the supplement, voters must be:

• at least 18 years on or before polling day
• ordinarily resident at the address at which he/she wishes to be registered; and
• not already registered as an elector at any other address.

To be included on the supplement, you can download form RFA2 (pdf). If you are already on the register, and need to change your address, then you should look for form RFA3 (pdf).

Application forms for inclusion on a supplementary register are available at any Garda Station. The application must be received by the local registration authority (usually a county council) at least 15 days before the ballot.

Applications can be made at any time, however.

If a general election takes place on, or after, February 15

If a general election takes place after (or on) February 15th, the register in effect will be the 2011 Register of Electors. This takes force on February 15 and stays in effect for 12 calendar months.

The current Register of Electors can be checked online at www.checktheregister.ie. People seeking to vote and who are not on the current register, or who need to change their address, can therefore apply to their local registration authority (usually a county council) to register.

The deadline for application of the next Register is this Thursday, November 25. Any applications not made before that date will have to be made in the form of an application to the Supplementary register (see above).

Details on how to register to vote can be found at the Citizens Information Website.