Ireland

May referendum could allow northerners to vote for president of Ireland

A referendum is to be held in May on whether Irish citizens living outside the Republic can vote in presidential elections. Picture by Rui Vieira, Press Association
A referendum is to be held in May on whether Irish citizens living outside the Republic can vote in presidential elections. Picture by Rui Vieira, Press Association A referendum is to be held in May on whether Irish citizens living outside the Republic can vote in presidential elections. Picture by Rui Vieira, Press Association

A REFERENDUM is to be held in May on whether Irish citizens living outside the Republic - including in the north - can vote in presidential elections.

Former Taoiseach Enda Kenny announced the referendum in March 2017. However, it will not be held in time to affect next month's presidential election.

Legislation is now being drawn up to allow the poll to take place in May, alongside European and local elections.

If the referendum is successful it would allow around 3.5 million Irish citizens who live outside the Republic to vote for the head of state.

A referendum on extending voting rights in the Irish presidential elections has been discussed for several years.

The granting of voting rights was first recommended by the Constitutional Convention in 2013.