NOW THAT THE DATE FOR THE election has been declared, it’s time to check you’re all set up to vote on the big day.

The first thing to do is to check the Register of Electors to make sure your name is included.

The current Live Register can be checked at public libraries, garda stations, city councils, county councils, and online at www.checktheregister.ie.

If your name is not included, and you’re certain you should be on it, contact your local authority to double-check your details have been recorded correctly so that you are properly registered and get your polling card.

Supplementary register

It is possible to get your name onto the supplementary register for up to 15 working days before polling day, if you are not already registered to vote.

To be included on this supplement to the live register, applicants must be ordinarily resident at the address for which they are being registered to vote and not already be registered to vote at another 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).

Note: Sundays are not counted as “working days”, but Saturdays are, so that means 23 February is the last day for your local authority to receive your application for inclusion.

Postal votes

The last date for receipt of applications for the supplementary list of postal voters is two days after the Dáil has been dissolved, using a PV2 form.

Most people do not qualify for a postal vote, but the Citizens Information Board says you can apply for one if:

• You are an Irish diplomat or his/her spouse posted abroad
• You are a garda
• You are a full-time member of the Defence Force
• You cannot go to a polling station because of a physical illness or disability
• You are studying full-time at an educational institution in Ireland, which is away from your home address where you are registered
• You are unable to vote at your polling station because of your occupation
• You are unable to vote at your polling station because you are in prison as a result of a court order

For more information, see the Citizens Information Website.