Thousands of asylum-seekers, refugees and immigrant workers are entitled to vote in the local elections next June and this should stifle attempts to raise the immigration issue according to an officer with an integration agency.
EU citizens can in addition vote in the European elections.
Mr Jean-Pierre Eyanga, project officer with Integrating Ireland, a national network of refugee and asylum seekers said he had no idea yet how many refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants have registered so far. His organisation will be carrying out an audit later. It was also difficult to put a number on the total numbers of immigrants living in Ireland right now, he added.
He has been contacting local development and integration organisations to spread the information to people in their area that they are entitled to vote.
"It is their right. Somebody who does not exercise this right can be abused and overlooked," he said.
Ireland was becoming an intercultural society, more and more, and Integrating Ireland was very keen to circulate information to let immigrant people know their rights and entitlements.
Politicians before the last general election agreed on a protocol not to play the race card and hopefully it will not be played in the local elections.
As well as being entitled to vote, members of minority ethnic groups had already announced they were running for election in Tallaght, Ennis and Galway. Members of minority groups in other areas would follow, he expected.
The draft register of electors has been prepared in November and revision courts to consider amendments are being held in many areas in December. The final register will come into effect in mid-February, but people have until May 24th to register, a spokesperson for the Department of Environment and Local Government said.
In Co Kerry, a number of immigrants have registered early, according to the office dealing with registration.
Some 5,082 asylum seekers were living in a total of 58 direct provision accommodation centres as of October.