If you’re not registered to vote ahead of the upcoming referendum, here’s what you need to do

Almost half a million people have been advised to 'Check the Register' ahead of the May deadline for the upcoming referendum.

More than 460,000 young people have been advised to 'Check the Register' ahead of the 8 May deadline to vote in the upcoming referendum to decide whether to repeal the 8th Amendment to the Constitution. Since the General Election in 2016, more than 122,000 Irish people have turned 18 and will be eligible to vote when polling stations open on 25 May.

Anyone not registered by the 8 May deadline will not be able to vote in the referendum.

If you turn 18 between now and 25 May, you will be able to register before the deadline.

People are being advised to visit checktheregister.ie to make sure they are registered and if not, to complete the RFA2 form to register or the RFA3 form to change their address.

The USI are running voter registration drives on campuses all across Ireland in partnership with local Student Unions to register as many young people as possible before May 8th. Forms will be provided and local Gardai will be on campuses to stamp completed forms.

Ian Power, Executive Director of SpunOut.ie, said: "A number of young people checking the register in the last few weeks have reported to us they have been removed since the last time they voted.

"This can often happen as local authorities attempt to clean the registers. We would advise everyone who wants to vote on May 25th to check the register and make sure they’re on it by the May 8th deadline."