The Referendum Commission has launched a nationwide campaign to encourage people to make sure they are registered to vote on the forthcoming referendum on divorce.

The vote is taking place on Friday May 24th - the same day as the European Parliament and local elections.

The chairperson of the commission, Ms Justice Tara Burns, will visit different parts of the country in the coming weeks to encourage voter registration - starting in Donegal and Sligo.

The Referendum Commission will also be running radio, online, social media and TV advertising to urge people to check if they are registered at checktheregister.ie.

While the commission's remit covers the referendum only, being on the electoral register will allow people to vote in the referendum and the European and local elections.

Tara Burns, Commission chairperson, addresses students at ⁦@LYIT⁩ on how and why you should register to vote. See https://t.co/3k9JXxM8TS pic.twitter.com/af2cTjVq80

— ReferendumCommission (@RefCom_ie) April 9, 2019

Chairperson Tara Burns said: "In order to vote, your name has to be on the register of electors for the address at which you normally live and checking if you are registered is really very simple, you can find out by checking at www.checktheregister.ie or you can also check the register in local authority offices, post offices, Garda stations and public libraries."

In this referendum, people will be asked to vote on a proposal to change the Constitution in relation to divorce.

It will ask people to reduce the waiting time for a divorce from four to two years.

Deadlines

If people find they are not registered, they can make sure they are added to the supplement to the register by completing a form which can be downloaded from www.checktheregister.ie.

The form is also available at local authorities, Garda stations, post offices or public libraries.

Then they can bring the completed form to a local Garda station to have their identity certified.

It must get to the relevant local authority before May 7th.

People ordinarily resident at a hospital, nursing home or similar institution who are unable to vote at a polling station can vote at their hospital or nursing home - but only if they register on the Special Voters list.

The closing date for this is April 28th next - and application forms are available from local authorities, libraries, post offices, Garda stations or at www.checktheregister.ie

Sunday April 28th is also the deadline to apply for a postal vote.

These are available to certain people - including Irish diplomats and their families posted abroad, members of the Garda and Defence Forces, prisoners and others who are unable to vote at their local polling station because of their occupation, service or employment.

Students studying full time at an educational institution in Ireland, which is away from the home address where they are registered, can also apply.