Deadline looms for voters to get names on register in time for general election

Voters have until tomorrow to get their names onto the electoral register.

Although candidates have already begun knocking on doors and canvasing in anticipation of an election early next year, those voting still have limited time to be registered.

Vincent Norton, executive manager with Dublin City Council, said: “Once the draft register is closed off, the local authorities right across the country are to publish the live register by February 15.

“But what people can do is they can continue to send in the forms and once we start compiling the register for 2016/2017 we will include them.

“There is no opportunity between November 25 and February 13 to get on the register,” Mr Norton told RTÉ’s News at One.

However, he said once an election is called, people will be given an opportunity to join the supplementary register.

“They can fill out a form but they must get garda authorisation or a garda stamp on that form before they submit it to us,” he said.

Those wanting to check they are on the list, or people wanting to register, can do so online at www.checktheregister.ie

Alternatively, forms are available in post offices, libraries or through local authorities.

Meanwhile, in Dublin’s Blackrock yesterday, Renua leader Lucinda Creighton was canvassing with candidate Frank Cronin.

Speaking on the campaign trail, she said smaller parties are severely disadvantaged going into the election as a result of the funding structures currently in place.

“The other political parties receive €13m a year in taxpayers’ money, funded directly to them by the State.

“It’s a cartel, it’s anti-competitive, if it were a multinational they would be struck down by the EU commission, and it’s absolutely anti-democratic.

“As a party with four elected members not only are we denied any form of state funding but our former parties — Fine Gael in my case, Labour in the case of Roisín Shorthall and Tommy Broughan — are taking in the region of €60,000 a year in our name.

“It’s completely wrong, it’s wholly undemocratic and that’s the challenge that we are facing,” Ms Creighton said.