Everything you need to know about registering to vote as the deadline approaches 

With the general election called for Friday, November 29, there are only a few days left to register to vote or update your details, but, according to the Electoral Commission, doing so should take you less than three minutes.

First-time voters often do not know they have to register and so may miss the deadline, or turn up to vote only to be turned away.

If you are not already registered to vote, or you need to update your details or change your address, the deadline for in-person voting is Tuesday, November 12.

However, if you need to register for postal or special voting, the deadline is very tight, with applications closing tomorrow, Sunday, November 10.

If you are not registered to vote, you can do so by visiting checktheregister.ie, https://tinyurl.com/3huvc4tt, or by filling in the relevant form at your local authority.

You will need to have your PPS number and your Eircode.

When registering online, you will be prompted to select your local authority from a drop-down list.

You will be asked for your PPS number, date of birth and name, as well as your nationality, your address, contact number and email address.

When you have been registered, a polling card will be sent to your home address before the general election.

Under electoral law, certain people are eligible to apply for postal voting.

These include: full-time students studying away from home, people with illnesses or disabilities, members of An Garda Síochána, full-time members of the Defence Forces, and Irish diplomats posted abroad, and their spouses or partners.

People in prison are eligible for postal voting, as are anonymous electors, or members of the household of a person whose safety would be at risk if their name and address were published on the register of electors.

Also eligible for postal voting are people whose occupation, service or employment makes it likely that they will be unable to vote in person on polling day.

However, the deadline for application for a postal vote is two days after the dissolution of the Dáil at the latest, which in this case is by Sunday, November 10.

People residing in hospitals, nursing homes, mental health facilities or similar institutions, and people who have a disability or illness which prevents them from going to the polling station, can vote at the hospital, nursing home or similar facility if they apply to be included in the special voters’ list.

The special voters’ list is prepared and maintained by registration authorities (city and county councils) as part of the register of electors.

In the case of a first application, and whenever required by the registration authorities in the case of a subsequent application, it must be accompanied by a certificate from a registered medical practitioner (such as a GP).

Again, this must be done by Sunday, November 10.

For further information on voting, see electoralcommission.ie.