Elections in the Republic of Ireland

{{see also|History of the franchise in Ireland}}

Entitlement to vote is based on citizenship. Residents of the state who are Irish citizens or British citizens may vote in elections to Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament). Residents who are citizens of any EU state may vote in European Parliament elections, while any resident, regardless of citizenship, may vote in local elections.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/elections/system-seems-complicated-but-your-vote-really-does-matter-30297680.html|title=System seems complicated but your vote really does matter|work=Irish Independent|date=23 May 2014}}

The right of Irish expatriates to vote is heavily restricted. Only members of the armed forces and diplomatic staff abroad may vote in Dáil elections, while only expatriates who are graduates of the National University of Ireland or Trinity College Dublin may vote in Seanad elections to the university constituencies.

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Military personnel, whether serving at home or abroad, vote by postal ballot. These votes are delivered by a courier service, usually a commercial one, but a military courier is used for ballots cast by Irish troops in Lebanon and Syria.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/elections/our-peacekeepers-among-first-to-cast-votes-30297838.html|title=Our peacekeepers among first to cast votes|newspaper=Irish Independent|date=23 May 2014}} Voters living on islands off the west coast in counties Galway, Mayo, and Donegal traditionally voted two or three days before polling day, but in 2014 the gap was narrowed, when they voted just one day beforehand.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/elections/defence-forces-helicopter-glitch-delays-island-poll-30297683.html|title=Defence Forces helicopter glitch delays island poll|newspaper=Irish Independent|date=23 May 2014}} Following an amendment to electoral law in 2022, early voting on the islands is allowed only in exceptional circumstances.{{Cite Irish legislation|title=Electoral Reform Act 2022|year=2022|number=30|section=200|stitle=Part 8: Polling on Islands|date=25 July 2022|access-date=14 February 2023}}

{{see also|Dáil election results}}

{{anchor|Timetable}}

Under the Constitution, the term of a Dáil is a maximum of seven years; statute law, currently the Electoral Act 1992, establishes a lower maximum of five years.{{cite Irish legislation|year=1992|number=23|section=33|name=Electoral Act 1992|stitle=Maximum duration of Dáil|date=5 November 1992|access-date=28 March 2020}} The Taoiseach may advise the president to dissolve at any time. If a Taoiseach has ceased to retain the support of the majority of the Dáil, the president may in their absolute discretion refuse to dissolve the Dáil. To date, no president has refused to dissolve the Dáil.

Electoral law provides that the "same Dáil shall not continue for a longer period than five years from the date of its first meeting".{{cite ISB|year=1992|number=23|section=33|stitle=Maximum duration of Dáil|name=Electoral Act 1992|date=5 November 1992|access-date=8 June 2021}} When the Dáil is dissolved, the Clerk of the Dáil must issue a writ of election to the returning officer for each constituency.{{cite ISB|year=1992|number=23|section=39|stitle=Issue and return of writs|name=Electoral Act 1992|date=5 November 1992|access-date=8 June 2021}} The election must take place on a date set by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage 18 to 25 days (disregarding any excluded day) after the writs have been issued.{{cite ISB|year=1992|number=23|section=96|stitle=Times of poll|name=Electoral Act 1992|date=5 November 1992|access-date=8 June 2021}}; {{cite ISB|year=2001|number=38|section=23|stitle=Amendment of section 96 of Principal Act|name=Electoral (Amendment) Act 2001|date=24 October 2001|access-date=8 June 2021}}{{cite web|title=Dáil Éireann|url=https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/government-in-ireland/houses-of-the-oireachtas/dail-eireann/|website=Citizens Information|date=30 August 2023|access-date=2 July 2024|archive-date=18 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240318082305/https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/government-in-ireland/houses-of-the-oireachtas/dail-eireann/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html#article16|website=Irish Statute Book|title=Constitution of Ireland|date=January 2020|access-date=2 July 2024|archive-date=23 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423200419/https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html#article16|url-status=live}}

Elections are by single transferable vote (STV), with each constituency returning between three and five deputies, each called a {{lang|ga|Teachta Dála}} or TD. From 1980, constituencies have been redrawn by an independent Constituency Commission after each census, which was put on a statutory basis in 1997. From 2023, these functions have been carried out by the Electoral Commission.

The erection and removal of campaign posters by candidates is governed by the Litter Pollution Act 1997 and the Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2009.[https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/environment/topics/waste/litter/Pages/Election-Posters0331-3567.aspx#What%20is%20the%20Relevant%20Legislation? Department of Climate Action and Environment] – Election Posters FAQs Posters may only be erected for a certain specified time period before an election. This time period is either (a) 30 days before the poll date or (b) from the date the polling day order for the election has been made, whichever provides the shorter period of time. Posters must be removed within seven days of polling day.

;Footnotes

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Elections to Seanad Éireann take place after the general election to the Dáil. There are sixty members of the Seanad. Of these, eleven are nominated by the Taoiseach appointed next after the dissolution of the Dáil. Six are elected by STV in university constituencies: three for the National University (by graduates) and three for Dublin University (by graduates and scholars of Trinity College Dublin).{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1937/act/30/schedule/3/enacted/en/html|title=Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act 1937, Third Schedule: Counting of the Votes|website=Irish Statute Book|date=19 November 1937|access-date=3 April 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1937/act/30/section/7/enacted/en/html|title=Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act 1937, Section 7: Franchise|website=Irish Statute Book|date=19 November 1937|access-date=3 April 2020}} Forty-three are elected by an electorate of serving politicians (members of the incoming Dáil, the outgoing Seanad, and city and county councillors){{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1947/act/42/section/44/enacted/en/html|title=Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act 1947, Section 44: The electorate|date=19 December 1947|access-date=7 March 2020|website=Irish Statute Book}} for five vocational panels. These elections are also counted using STV, although using a different set of rules on the distribution of surpluses and the order of counts than in other elections in Ireland.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1947/act/42/schedule/2/enacted/en/html|title=Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act 1947, Second Schedule: Counting of the Votes|website=Irish Statute Book|date=19 December 1947|access-date=9 March 2020}}

Elections to the European Parliament are held simultaneously across Europe every five years. In Ireland, as for Dáil elections, STV is used in constituencies returning three to five members.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1997/act/2/schedule/2/enacted/en/html|title= European Parliament Elections Act 1997, Schedule 2: Rules for the conduct of the election, etc., Rule 85|website=Irish Statute Book|date=13 November 1995|access-date=9 March 2020}} Ireland has 14 seats in the European Parliament.

Elections to county councils, city councils and city and county councils are held every five years and by convention take place on the same day as European elections. Local electoral areas (LEAs) return between three and seven councillors by STV.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1995/si/297/|title=Local Elections Regulations 1995, Regulation 83: Transfer of Surplus|website=Irish Statute Book|date=19 November 1937|access-date=9 March 2020}} Until the Local Government Reform Act 2014, elections were also held for borough and town councils. The 2014 Act abolished borough and town councils with their functions transferred to municipal districts of the county councils, comprising the county councillors from the LEA coterminous with the district.

Some members of Údarás na Gaeltachta were directly elected by Gaeltacht residents between 1980 and 2012; since then all have been appointed by the government.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1979/act/5/section/29/enacted/en/html|title=Údarás na Gaeltachta Act, 1979, Section 29|work=Irish Statute Book|access-date=11 June 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2012/act/34/schedule/enacted/en/html|title=Gaeltacht Act 2012, Schedule|work=Irish Statute Book|access-date=11 June 2015}}

{{main|Irish presidential election}}

The President of Ireland is formally elected by the citizens of Ireland once in every seven years, except in the event of premature vacancy, when an election must be held within sixty days. The President is directly elected by secret ballot under the system of the instant-runoff voting (although the Constitution describes it as "the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote"). While both Irish and British citizens resident in the state may vote in Dáil elections, only Irish citizens, who must be at least 18 years of age, may vote in the election of the President. The presidency is open to all citizens of the state who are at least 35. A candidate must be nominated by one of the following:

• Twenty members of the Oireachtas (Dáil or Seanad).
• Four local authorities.
• Themselves (in the case of an incumbent or former president who has served only one term).

Where only one candidate is nominated, that candidate is declared elected without a ballot. No one may serve as President for more than two terms.

The Constitution of Ireland was approved by plebiscite on 1 July 1937. The Constitution recognises two types of referendums:

• On a proposed amendment to the Constitution, for which a referendum is always required, and the amendment is passed by a majority of those voting;
• An ordinary referendum, on a bill other than an amendment to the Constitution, for which a referendum is only required on petition of Oireachtas members, and the bill is passed by a majority of those {{em|eligible}} to vote.

{{anchor|ApprovedBody}}There have been 38 referendums for amendments to the Constitution of Ireland. There have been no ordinary referendums. Since 2023, the Electoral Commission provides neutral information to the public on each amendment. An organisation can register with the commission as an "approved body" in order to campaign publicly for or against the proposal, and to have monitors in polling stations and counting agents at count centres. From 1998 to 2019, this function was carried out by a Referendum Commission established for each referendum.

For a proposal to change the name of a place, a plebiscite is required.{{cite web|url=http://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/2001/act/37/revised/en/html#SEC189|title=Local Government Act 2001 Revised|date=16 April 2019 |page=§§189–190 [F244, F247] |work=Revised Acts|publisher=Law Reform Commission|access-date=22 February 2020}} The current 1956 Regulations on conducting such plebiscites relate to a postal vote of ratepayers;{{cite Irish legislation|year=1956|type=si|num=31|title=Local Government (Changing of Place Names) Regulations 1956|access-date=19 April 2018}}; {{cite web|url=https://www.sdcc.ie/en/download-it/publications/proposed-change-of-name-of-locality.pdf |title=Proposed Change of Name of a Locality (Palmerston Village To Palmerstown Village)|year=2014|publisher=South Dublin County Council|access-date=19 April 2018 |quote=In accordance with Section 79 of the Local Government Act 1946 and the Local Government (Changing of Place Names Regulations) 1956 (as amended by Section 67 of Local Government Act 1994)}}; {{cite news|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/palmerstown-name-change-1879108-Jan2015/|title=Palmerston or Palmerstown? … Residents have voted on a name change|last=Brophy|first=Daragh|date=13 January 2015|work=TheJournal.ie|access-date=8 January 2018}} in 2019 the relevant electorate was changed from ratepayers to local electors, but {{as of|2020|01|16|lc=y}} the regulations have not been updated accordingly.{{cite web |title=Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011 |url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/isbc/2001_37.html#associatedsecondary |website=Irish Statute Book |access-date=22 February 2020 |page=SIs made under the Act |no-pp=y |date=16 January 2020}} In a County Cork town, Charleville was chosen in a 1989 four-option plebiscite ahead of {{lang|ga|Ráth Luirc}}, {{lang|ga|An Rath}}, and Rathgoggan.{{cite news|title=King Charles wins handsome majority|last=Hogan|first=Dick|date=11 December 1989|page=4}}{{cite news|url=http://emigrant.scoilpac.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36890&Itemid=18|title=Bits and Pieces|last=Ferrie|first=Liam|date=17 December 1989|work=The Irish Emigrant|quote=The people of the north Cork town of Rath Luirc (or Charleville, or An Rath, or Rathgoggan) have voted to use the name Charleville for their town. Road signs in the area will be replaced.|access-date=22 May 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526200721/http://emigrant.scoilpac.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36890&Itemid=18|archive-date=26 May 2015}} The Official Languages Act 2003 prevented the plebiscite provision applying to places in the Gaeltacht, and so a 2005 plebiscite to change the name of Dingle, County Kerry was ruled invalid; in 2011, the 2003 Act was amended to remove the restriction.{{cite Irish legislation|year=2011|num=20|section=48 |title=Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011 |access-date=20 April 2018}}; {{cite web |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2011-07-21/33/ |title=Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Instruction to Committee |date=21 July 2011 |work=Dáil Debates – Vol.739 No.4 p.22 |no-pp=y|access-date=3 April 2020}}

Other local plebiscites include three in 2019 on whether to establish directly-elected mayors for Cork City Council, Limerick City and County Council and Waterford City and County Council, of which only that for Limerick was passed.

• Voting system
• Dáil vote for Taoiseach
• Politics of the Republic of Ireland
• Elections in Northern Ireland

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/government_in_ireland/elections_and_referenda/national_elections/voting_procedure_in_a_general_election.html Citizens Information: Elections and referenda]
• [http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/i/ireland/ Adam Carr's Election Archive]
• [http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/ireland.html Parties and elections]
• [http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/ireland/ NSD: European Election Database – Ireland] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140623114525/http://www.nsd.uib.no/european_election_database/country/ireland/ |date=23 June 2014 }} publishes regional level election data; allows for comparisons of election results, 1992–2007
• [https://electionsireland.org/index.cfm ElectionsIreland.org], produced in association with Seán Donnelly, author of various books on Irish elections
• [http://irelandelection.com/ Ireland Election - Irish Election Results - General, Local, Presidential, Referendum]

{{Irish elections}}

{{Elections in Europe}}

Elections in Ireland