On Friday, Ireland will be the second country to open polls for the European election. And, for the first time, homeless people can have a say in it. Since a reform in 2022, registering to vote only requires a valid address, a social security number, and a postcode.

This means that homeless people can use a post office of their choice as an address to receive their ballot paper. ”Beforehand, you had to go to the police station, have a proof of ID, of address, get a stamp on a form: it made it impossible,” explains Louise Bayliss, campaign coordinator at the NGO Focus Ireland, who launched a campaign in March to assist homeless people in registering to vote.

Activists hope that this new opportunity for homeless voters will push Irish lawmakers to address the country's housing crisis marked by a housing shortage, soaring prices and rents, and record levels of homelessness.