The homeless vote could ‘shift the tone’ of upcoming elections in Ireland, Focus Ireland has said.

It follows a Voter Registration Drive launched by the charity today that hopes to add as many of the 13,000 homelesspeople in the country as possible to the electoral register over the coming month.

To do that, they have teamed up with An Post who are allowing those without a permanent residence to register their address at their local post office so they can vote.

Two minutes

James Flanagan, a 20-year-old from Dublin who was formerly homeless, told Newstalk that he registered to vote today and encouraged others to do the same.

“I sat down and got out the computer, but you could even do it on a phone, and it took not even two minutes, and boom – I was registered to vote,” he said.

“There are lots of centres and places where you can get to use a computer and then all you need is a PPS number and that’s it.

“It’s important, especially with the background I and other people come from, to have the chance to vote – and now all you need is the internet.”

James Flanagan who formerly experienced homelessness registered to vote today. Image: Emily Keegan

Mr Flanagan said being able to vote means a lot to him.

“It gives me a place to stand on, a foundation to be able to speak the thoughts I have about homelessness,” he said.

“I have a good understanding of it and want to challenge and change it – at the moment homelessness is the biggest challenge in Ireland.”

Impact on local elections

Focus Ireland Advocacy Director Mike Allen said helping homeless people to vote could have a significant impact on upcoming elections.

“[Homeless] people we work with are going to be asked to support and have a voice on policies that will affect them in the years to come,” he said.

“Local government is responsible for homelessness and housing policy so deciding the councils that get elected will be a contribution homeless people can make.

“We think it will shift the tone of the [local] election and shift the policies applied by local government in the years to come.”

'Important void'

The Electoral Commission’s Chief Executive Art O'Leary said it was important that homeless people have the right to vote.

“There are over 10,000 homeless people in the country which is a very important void,” he said.

“The message we’re trying to get across to people who are homeless is to get yourself on the electoral register and go out and vote on polling day – which is 73 days away.

“Your vote is your voice and if you don’t vote, you allow people to make decisions and speak for you – it’s important you do it yourself.”

The 2024 Local Elections are to take place on Friday, June 7th.

Reporting by Emily Keegan.

Main image: Members of the Electoral Commission, An Post, and Focus Ireland at the homeless voter registration drive today. Image: Emily Keegan