Postal vote:Voters who have applied to cast their vote by post could have their application accepted or denied depending on which local authority handles their request.
While certain categories of voters are explicitly entitled to postal votes under legislation, for others their request for the right to vote by post is left to the discretion of their local authority.
The deadline for applying to vote by post passed at 5pm yesterday.
The majority of those requiring a postal vote will have made their applications some time ago and there were 17,620 postal voters on the register of electors published last February.
However, others will only have become aware that they would not be able to reach their local polling station after the election was called.
These people had only two days to apply to their local authority for a postal vote and may now find that their application is denied on the whim of the local franchise officer.
Gardaí, members of the Defence Forces, diplomats and civil servants and their spouses attached to Irish missions abroad and full-time students in Irish educational institutions all have to right to a postal vote.
Physically disabled people or those with an ongoing illness who would not be able to attend the polling station are also entitled to a postal vote as long as they are certified by their medical practitioner. About 400 prisoners have applied for postal votes.
Postal voting is also available to those whose occupation is likely to prevent them from attending their polling station, such as pilots or those working on trawlers or oil rigs.
