Voting in the elections
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Following the moving of the writ in Dáil Eireann yesterday, Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, made an order today (5thOctober 2011) appointing Thursday, 27th October 2011 as the polling day for the Dublin West Bye-Election – the same day as polling nationally in the Presidential election and referendums.
Polling will be between the hours of 7.00 a.m. and 10.00 p.m.
To stand for election to Dáil Éireann, a person must be a citizen of Ireland and at least 21 years of age by polling day.
A person may nominate himself or herself as a candidate or, with his or her consent, may be nominated by a person who is registered as an elector in the constituency concerned. A candidate not in possession of a certificate of political affiliation (confirmation that a person is a candidate of a political party registered in the register of political parties) must have their nomination completed using either of the following options: (i) by way of assents requiring the completion of statutory declarations by 30 assentors registered in the relevant Dáil constituency, or (ii) by way of the candidate, or someone on his or her behalf, lodging a deposit of €500 with the returning officer.
The latest time for receiving nominations is 12 noon on Wednesday 12th October 2011. Candidates may withdraw their nominations up to 12 noon on Thursday 13th October 2011. Every Irish or British citizen who is 18 years or over on the day of the poll and is included in the register of electors in the Dublin West constituency is entitled to vote at the bye-election.
The electorate currently stands at 61,898. People who are eligible to vote in the bye-election but are not registered have until 10 October 2011 to apply to Fingal County Council for entry in the supplement to the register to be published before polling day. Supplement application forms are available from City and County, Garda Stations, Libraries, Post Offices and on-line at www.checktheregister.ie.
Nationwide, people who are eligible to vote in the Presidential election and referendums but are not registered also have until 10 October 2011 to apply to their City or County Council for entry in the supplement to the register to be published before polling day.
Applications for inclusion in the supplement must be signed in the presence of and witnessed by a member of the Garda Síochana or, if the person cannot attend their local Garda Station, by an official of their City or County Council provided they state the reason why they were unable to attend a Garda station. If, because of a physical illness or physical disability, a person cannot attend either their local Garda Station or their City or County Council, their application form must be accompanied by a medical certificate.
In the case of all polls now scheduled for 27th October 2011, if a person is eligible to vote by post, or is unable to vote in person due to a physical illness or physical disability and is resident in a hospital, nursing home or similar institution, and they are not on the Postal Voters List or Special Voters List, they can apply for inclusion in the supplement to these lists. Application forms are available from City or County Councils who will advise people of the appropriate arrangements for the completion of the relevant form. Completed forms must be received by the relevant City or County Council not later than Friday 7th October 2011.