Mr John Paul Phelan, T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for electoral reform, has published a consultation document to get the views of the public on a range of proposals to update and modernise the electoral registration process.
Why Has This Consultation Been Launched?
The processes underpinning the compilation and management of the electoral register have changed little since the foundation of the state. These proposals offer a number of ways to make the electoral registration process more responsive to the needs of a modern democracy.
The public and all stakeholders are invited to give their views, register any concerns, voice their support, identify any issues for implementation; or simply comment. All inputs received will be analysed and the content used to inform the preparation of detailed implementation and legislative proposals over the course of 2019.
The proposals in combination could mean:
- Registration in a way that works for everyone – online or on paper
- A clear and simple process – one form, one process, one register – all year round
- A single, secure database to enable cross-local authority checks while protecting data
- Balancing security and ease of access to protect the integrity of our registration process
- Building an electoral register that is secure, comprehensive and accurate
- Data sharing in the future – subject to clear standards, limits and safeguards
To enable these reforms in full would require improved identity verification such as requiring provision of Personal Public Service Numbers (PPSNs), and some limited data sharing between local authorities who manage the electoral registers and other state bodies (for verification purposes.
To ensure the safety and security of data and the integrity of the electoral system, the following will be considered:
- Data protection and privacy will be central at all stages; data collection and storage will be subject to rigorous testing
- Hardware and cyber security will be prioritised
- Strict usage rules for those working with the register
- Rigorous and sustained security and stability auditing over the long-term
How To Get Involved?
Make a Submission To The Electoral Registration Consultation project -The closing date is Friday the 15th of March 2019
By Email – in word format please to registerreform@housing.gov.ie.
Alternatively, responses can be posted to: Electoral Registration Project Consultation, Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Custom House, Dublin 1, D01 W6X0.
It should be noted that in the interests of transparency, all written submissions received will be made publicly available on the Department’s website.
Relevant Documents
Click on the links below to view, or to view and down load the relevant documentation.
Modernisation of the Electoral Registration Process – Short consultation document (218.49 KB)
Modernisation of Electoral Registration Process – More detailed consultation document (660.02 KB)
Modernisation of the Electoral Registration Process – Press release (254.42 KB)
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