Press release
Statement from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage - 24 January 2024
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, has today made an order appointing Friday 8 March, 2024 as the polling day for the referendums on the proposals for the amendment of the Constitution contained in the Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023 and the Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023.
Polling will take place between the hours of 7am and 10pm. The total electorate currently stands at some 3.3 million.
To vote in the referendum you must be an Irish citizen who meets the qualifying conditions, including a requirement to be 18 years or over on polling day and ordinarily resident at the address in the constituency in which you wish to vote. You must also be included on the Register of Electors.
The registration process has changed since the last referendum and everyone is encouraged to check that their details are correct and up to date at checktheregister.ie.
Eligible voters who are not on the register, or who need to update their details, for example because they have moved house, can do so by submitting an online application at the CHECKTHEREGISTER website or by submitting a form to their local authority. Relevant application forms are available from City, County or City and County Councils (these are the registration authorities) or online.
Completed applications must be received by the registration authority for the area in which you reside by Tuesday 20 February 2024.
If a person is eligible to vote by post, or is unable to vote in person due to an illness or disability and is resident in a hospital, nursing home, mental health facility or similar institution, and they are not on the Postal Voters List or Special Voters List, as appropriate, they can apply up to Monday, 12 February, 2024 for inclusion in those lists. Application forms are available from City, County or City and County Councils and online at www.checktheregister.ie.
The Minister has appointed Barry Ryan, a Principal Officer in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, to be the Referendum Returning Officer for the referendums.