Voting in Prison - National Voter Registration Day 2024

On the National Day of Voter Register 2024, Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) is highlighting that people in prison have the same right to register to vote as people in the community. The right to vote should be facilitated and protected within the prison estate, just as it is in the rest of our community.

The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2006 provides the legal basis for the enfranchisement of individuals in prison subject to other voter registration criteria.

• Voting can take place by postal vote within the prison.
• No home address is needed for registration, but constituency registration is needed.
• A person on parole or temporary release at the time of an election is free to vote in the constituency where they are registered.
• People on remand have the same right to vote as people who have been sentenced.
• Relevant forms must be made available in prisons to allow for individuals to register for a postal vote. People should also be facilitated in checking the electoral register to check that they are registered to vote. Governors will also need to confirm (section 3) that the person will be in prison on polling day and unable to vote in the community.

Applications for special and postal voting arrangements, with relevant, completed, certification must be received by the local authority by 11 May 2024.

Irish Penal Reform Trust encourages political candidates to distribute their literature/manifestos in prisons through the school, library, and other common areas of the prison. IPRT also encourages political candidates to visit a prison in or near their constituency.

• For more details about voting, see the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2006 and CheckTheRegister.ie.