Historic mayoral election in Limerick open to all voters

EVERYBODY in Limerick who is on the electoral register before May 20 will be able to vote in the mayoral election, it has been confirmed.

At the April metropolitan council meeting, local authority members raised questions around the eligibility of who will be allowed to vote in the inaugural contest for a directly elected first citizen.

In response, a council spokesperson confirmed that those who are eligible to vote in the local election will also be able to have their say in the mayoral count.

Unlike the presidential election and referendums, you do not need to be an Irish citizen to vote in a local or European election.

Both Irish and British citizens can vote in general elections.

All that is required for the local election is for one to be over 18, live in the relevant area and be registered to vote.

Metropolitan district leader, Cllr Azad Talukder, who himself hails from Bangladesh, said he is concerned at non-nationals being unaware of their right to vote.

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“People are confused. They are entitled to vote in local elections, but we don’t have enough information from the local authority. It’s not just a problem for Limerick. It’s for the whole of Ireland. How are we promoting to people who are entitled to register for the European election, who can vote for the Dail and who can vote in a local election? It's not very clear,” he said.

His constituency colleague, Cllr Elisa O’Donovan, Social Democrats agreed, saying almost half the people living in City West are born outside Ireland, many of whom do not have English as a first language.

She pointed to the increase in South American people in Limerick.

“I think there is a huge amount of voter education that needs to be done in those communities, and I do think council has a role to play in giving unbiased advice in a language they can understand,” she said at the April metropolitan meeting.