That's not true (as somebody who had to do this last year in 2024 because I was traveling in another country for work on election day)

Here is the form to register for postal voting in the Republic of Ireland - https://www.dublincity.ie/sites/default/files/2024-01/pv4-wo...

Instructions on how to submit the form / register for mail-in votes is on page 4.

Hope that helps anyone else out who needs in Ireland

I think they meant "don't have it" as in except in special circumstances, and that form says:

> You may use this form to apply for a postal vote if, due to the circumstances of your work/service or your full-time study in the State, you cannot go to your polling station on polling day.

Which seems to indicate that's only for people who can't go to the polling station, otherwise you do have to go there.

I think that a lot of Ireland's voting practices come from having a small population but a huge diaspora. I imagine the percentage of people living outside Ireland what would be eligible to vote in many other countries is significant enough to effect elections, certainly if they are close.

As someone who spent the first 30 years of my life in Ireland but is now part of that diaspora, it's frustrating but I get it. I don't get to vote, but neither do thousands of plastic paddys who have very little genuine connection to Ireland.

That said, I'm sure they could expand the voting window to a couple of days at least without too much issue.