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National Elections

Election to the Dáil
Expenditure Limits at Dáil Elections
Election to Seanad
Election of the President




Election To the Dáil

A Dáil election (general election) must be held within 30 days after the dissolution of the Dáil.The Clerk of the Dáil issues a writ to the returning officer in each consituency instructing him or her to hold an election.

The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government appoints the polling day which must be between the 18th and 25th day (excluding Good Friday, Sundays and Public Holidays) after the issue of the writ. The Minister also appoints the polling period which must consist of at least 12 hours between 7:00am and 10:30pm.

Further information is available in the information leaflet - How he Dáil is elected (pdf, 229kb) or on the citizens information website (external link)


Expenditure Limits at Dáil Elections


The Electoral Act 1997 sets limits on the amount of expenditure which may be incurred by or on behalf of a candidate at a Dáil election. Section 3 of the Electoral Act 1997, as amended, provides that these and other amounts in the Act may be varied by Ministerial order in line with movement in the Consumer Price Index.

The current limits set in 2007 are:

  • 30,150 euro in a 3-seat constituency
  • 37,650 euro in a 4-seat constituency
  • 45,200 euro in a 5-seat constituency.

The amount of election expenses which may be reimbursed to a candidate at a Dáil election is the actual expenses or 8,700 euro, whichever is the less.


Election to Seanad

A Seanad election must take place not later than 90 days after the dissolution of the Dáil. The dates for the various stages of the election (nomination, polling etc) are appointed by order of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.

The elections are held on the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote and by secret postal ballot.

Further information is available in the information leaflet - How the Seanad is Elected (pdf, 148kb) or on the citizens information website (external link)

 

Election of the President

The Irish President (external link) is elected directly by the people of Ireland for a period of seven years.They may not serve more than two terms. A presidential election must take place within the 60 days before the expiration of the term of office of the outgoing president. If a vacancy occurs before the completion of a normal term of office, the election takes place within 60 days after the occurrence of the vacancy. Voting is by secret ballot on the single transferable vote system.

The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government makes an order appointing the last day for receiving nominations, the polling day and the period for voting, which must last at least 12 hours between 7:00am and 10:30pm.

The main legal provisions relating to the election of the President are contained in Article 12 of the Constitution – see Bunreacht na hÉireann (Constitution of Ireland March 2010) (external link) and in the Presidential Elections Act 1993 as amended – see Presidential Elections Act, 1993 (external link)

Forms, including nomination papers, for a Presidential election are directed and prescribed by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. The most recent regulations prescribing these were made on 16th May 2011 – see Presidential Elections (Forms) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 258 of 2011) (external link)

Further information is available in the information leaflet - How the President is Elected (pdf, 157kb) or on the citizens information website (external link)

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