Now is a good time to check if you’re on the register.

Cork City Council is reminding the public that a new national online voter registration process is now in operation and can be accessed through the website checktheregister.ie.

The new process has been simplified and is available for those registering for the first time as well as to people who may have recently changed addresses.

You are no longer obliged to go to your local Garda station or registration authority to have your identity verified as the PPSN and date of birth provided online satisfies this requirement.

Every resident of the country, aged 18 or over, regardless of nationality, is entitled to vote in the upcoming local elections. Cork City Council is calling on voters and potential voters to update or confirm their details so that the Council can ensure the accuracy of voter information in advance of the elections next year.

“This voter registration campaign will enable people who have voted previously to check and update their details. But it is intended also for people who may never have voted before and who want to exercise their right to do so,” said Cork City Council Director of Corporate Affairs Paul Moynihan.

“You may be on the register and have voted in local elections for years but adding details, including date of birth and your PPSN, allows local authorities to cross-check and confirm the information provided by each person, adding to the integrity of the process. It will also help to ensure that there aren’t duplicate registrations.”

“The new online process will also provide the facility for families to notify us when loved ones have passed away and that our records are up to date at Election time when voter cards are issued.”

For anyone who isn’t comfortable using the internet, the Franchise Section in City Hall can help.

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