Options paper on voting rights for citizens outside the state

The Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have prepared an Options Paper on voting at presidential elections by citizens resident outside the State. 

This follows the announcement by the Taoiseach, on 12 March 2017, of the Government decision to hold a referendum to amend the Constitution to give the right to vote at presidential elections to Irish citizens resident outside the State, including in Northern Ireland. The Government's decision is in line with the recommendation of the Convention on the Constitution, in its Fifth Report. 

In order to inform public discourse the options paper sets out the range of options available to give effect to the recommendation of the Convention on the Constitution.