If you are not on the upcoming electoral register you will have no vote and thus no voice in the 2007 General Election.

Over the last two decades the register has been allowed to fall into a terrible state with hundreds of thousands of extra names on the register then there are people in the country.

Minister Dick Roche TD is tasked with cleaning it all up but it is not going so good. According Pat Rabbitte TD "Credit card firms have more information on people than the Government’s Electoral Register."

Currently Local Authorities are updating their registers and while you may have previously been on the electoral register you may have been removed in error. You should check the register immediately.

The deadline for making changes to the electoral register has been extended until December 9 and you have until then to submit corrections to your local authority.

In Westport the register is available for inspection at Westport Library and the Civic Offices on the Ballinrobe Road. You can also check them online here. Also available will be form RFA 1 which will allow you to claim a correction to the register. You can download this form here.

RFA 1 allows you to add or remove your entry on the register. You should use it to delete your entry at an old address or add your new address.

The right to vote is a founding principal of our republic and is a sacred consitutional right but it is your responsiblity to make sure you get your entitlement to vote.

If you have any trouble or questions about the register do not hesitate to contact me or your local representative.