Special Difficulty Order – Supplement to Postal Voters List (Covid-19)

Mr Darragh O’Brien T.D., Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has today (25 June) made an order to provide a postal vote to electors who, because of a public health reason relating to Covid-19, cannot vote in person at the bye-election in Dublin Bay South on 8 July 2021. The making of the order means that an eligible person may apply to Dublin City Council to be entered on the supplement to the postal voters list on or before Friday 2 July 2021.

The order made by the Minister will assist electors who may be required to self-isolate or restrict their movements on foot of public health advice or may be required, by law, to quarantine, by allowing such electors to apply for inclusion in the supplement to the postal voters list for the bye-election.

Eligible persons should contact Dublin City Council for an application form or download it from www.voter.ie or www.dublincity.ie. Completed forms must be received by Dublin City Council on or before Friday 2 July 2021.  The form may be posted to Franchise Section, Dublin City Council, Block 4, Floor 4, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin DO8 RF3F or sent by email to franchise@dublincity.ie

Minister O’Brien also welcomes the arrangements being put in place by the returning officer to ensure that the bye-election will be held in accordance with Covid-19 public health advice.  The key measures that will be in place are: sanitisers will be available at all polling stations; voters will be asked to wear a mask and observe social distancing when they are in the polling station; the polling station will be sanitised at regular intervals; and a perspex screen will be set up at each presiding officer’s desk.  Voters will also be asked to bring their own pen or pencil to mark the ballot paper, but pencils will also be available at the polling station if required by a voter.  Further details are available at www.dublincityreturningofficer.com.  In addition, Minister O’Brien has extended polling hours to the maximum available to further assist Covid-19 arrangements in polling stations.  Polling stations will therefore be open from 7a.m. to 10.30p.m on polling day.