Franchise

The Franchise section is responsible for preparing and publishing the Register of Electors each year. The Register is a list of all persons who are entitled to vote at elections and referenda.

The Register comes into force on the 15th of February each year. Each September enumerators visit residences in the City Borough to update the Register and to deliver claim forms for completion by householders. A Draft Register is published on 1st November and this may be inspected free of charge at City Hall, Post Offices, Garda Stations and Libraries. Claims for amendment to the draft or for addition or deletion of names must be made to the Franchise Office by 25th November. The City Registrar rules on these appeals. Any person aggrieved by a decision of the County Registrar may appeal to the Circuit Court.   

Supplements to the Register are published prior to any election or referendum.  

Is féidir gnó a dhéanamh trí ghaeilge. 

Register of Electors 

Local Authorities now have an obligation to prepare two versions of the Register of Electors – the edited register and the full register. The Edited Register will contain the names and addresses of persons, who have indicated that their details can be used for direct marketing use by a commercial or other organisation. The Full Register lists everyone, who is entitled to vote, and once the Edited Register has been published, the Full Register can only be used for an electoral or other statutory purpose. You are required to indicate whether or not you wish to have your details included on the Edited Register.

Citizenship

While every resident is entitled to be registered, the registration authority needs to know a person’s citizenship to determine at which elections a person may vote. The right to vote is as follows:

• Irish Citizens may vote at every election and referendum
• British Citizens may vote at Dáil, European and local elections only
• Other EU Citizens may vote at European and local elections only
• Non-EU Citizens may vote at local elections only

It is an offence to fail to give the registration authority any information required for the purposes of its duties or to give false information.

Application for Registration  

Next year’s Register of Electors is now being compiled. Ensure that you and members of your household will be registered by completing and returning the PDF form (below) immediately.  

Tá leagan Gaeilge den cháipéis seo are fáil ach é a iarraidh ar do údarás clárúcháin áitiúil (féach an seoladh ar a chúl seo).

Be Sure to Include:

• Every person over 18 living at your address
• 17 year olds who will be 18 by 15th February next
• Anyone who normally lives at your address but is temporarily away

Do Not Include:

• A visitor staying temporarily at your address

Useful Telephone Numbers:
021 4924107
021 4924108
021 4924109   

Further information is available at the following links:

Cork County Borough Boundary Revision

Statistical Information on Local and Dáil Electors

Register of Electors

Election Section of the Department of the Environment and
Local Government Website
http://www.environ.ie 

Classes of Records Held

Computerised copy of current and previous year’s register
Bound copies of registers for previous 20 years

Contact Details

Franchise Office,
Cork City Council,
City Hall,
Cork.

Telephone: (021) 4924107 / 4924108 / 4924109
Fax: (021 4924186

E-mail: franchise@corkcity.ie

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Open to Public: 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p. m. Monday to Friday