Northern Ireland graduates are being forced to effectively pay to vote in the Seanad elections – the only Irish national election people from the north can take part in.
NUI and Trinity College Dublin graduates from the North hold the right to vote in the Seanad elections.
Yet those without a southern PPS number they must either hire a notary in the north to verify their ID at a cost of around £70 or else travel miles across the border, with the associated fuel costs, to a Garda station.
However, southern voters face no such travel requirements or costs and can register using their PPS number online.
It is thought that thousands of NI graduates are affected.
The reforms creating this barrier were only introduced in late 2024, meaning a new generation of northern voters are having their right to exercise their democratic rights hampered.
SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood, who has written to the Irish government demanding action, has described the situation as as a “serious barrier” to voters from the north exercising their democratic rights.
“This is a serious barrier for people in the North who are eligible to vote in Seanad elections exercising their democratic rights and it’s completely bureaucratic,” he told The Irish News.
“People can’t be expected to travel to a Garda station in the south at short notice or to pay in order to take part in the life of the nation.
“I’ve written to the Irish Government about this and proposed an exemption for people resident in the North who should be able to have their form witnessed by the same categories of people who can witness Irish passport applications. That would make it simple for everyone, and avoid wasting Garda time. This is solvable and I hope we can get a resolution quickly.”
Presently, those in the north applying for an Irish passport for the first time can have their application witnessed by a number of officials including a lawyer or a school teacher, without the need to travel south.
An NUI spokesperson told The Irish News: “Under the current legislation, Section 12 of the Act states that if a person claiming their vote cannot provide a PPS number, they must have a witness form signed by a member of the Garda Siochana, a notary or notary public, or a registered medical practitioner.
“The PPS number is a key piece of information in relation to the accuracy and integrity of the register as it is a unique identifier that can be linked to a specific individual.
“We are aware that this can cause issues for individuals with Irish citizenship residing in Northern Ireland and around the world who do not have PPS numbers.
“We have discussed this specific matter with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. All stakeholders wish to ensure that any barriers to registration are promptly identified and addressed.
“In certain cases, overcoming these barriers may require legislative changes, which can be a more prolonged process. We are of course obliged to apply the legislation as passed unless it is amended.”
Representatives from Trinity College Dublin were also approached by the Irish News for comment.