For the forthcoming local and European elections, polling will occur on Friday, June 7th, from 7 in the morning until 10 in the evening. You’ll receive a polling details card, which will provide information on your designated polling station (typically situated nearby). Although not mandatory, bringing along your polling card is often beneficial. However, ensure you carry a legitimate photo ID like a passport, a driving licence, a public services card, or an employee or student identity card. There are approximately 6,500 polling stations throughout the country.
If you are wondering whether you can participate in local elections, the requirements are relatively easy. You need not be an Irish citizen, but be at least 18 years old, reside in the respective local electoral area, and be on the register of electors. This can be verified online at checktheregister.ie or at your city and county council offices.
As for the eligibility for European elections, the rules differ slightly. Every Irish citizen aged 18 or above listed on the register of electors has the right to vote. Irish citizens residing in another EU country are also eligible to participate in that country’s elections. Likewise, if you are from another EU state but reside in Ireland, you can participate in the European election in Ireland.
Upon arrival at your polling station, expect to receive two ballot papers. However, in Limerick, voters will be given three. Ballot papers for the EU elections are white, those for the Limerick mayor are pink, and those for the local elections will be the colour decided by the local authority.
Refer to the list of candidates’ names appearing in alphabetical sequence on the voting paper, along with their party symbols and photographs. To make your vote count, you’ll have to mark your chosen numbers for each candidate in the box on the right side of their names. For instance, write a “1” for your first preference, a “2” for the second, a “3” for the third and so on, as per your choice. You’re at liberty to select as many candidates as you want to vote for.
As to when all votes will be totalled, the voting boxes will be opened at 9 o’clock in the morning on Saturday when all voting slips will be sorted out and separated. Note that local votes will be counted first. The decision on when to begin the count for the Limerick mayor ballots lies with the Returning Officer. The results of the initial count of the European election cannot be made public until all polling stations across Europe are closed, which is predicted to be around 10 pm Irish time on Sunday, June 9th. Meanwhile, the EU election count will kick off at 9am the same day. Both politicians and political experts will be eagerly watching the box openings on Saturday morning, hoping to gain a hint of how the coming weekend is likely to evolve based on these early tabulations.
To answer the question of how a candidate can succeed, they must simply achieve the vote quota, which is the total number of valid votes on the day of voting in that electoral region, divided by one plus the number of available seats, increment by one. For example, in a constituency that has four seats and has garnered a total valid poll of 25,000, you would need to divide this figure by five (one plus the total number seats), which equals 5,000. Afterwards, you add one, making the quota equal to 5,001. In the event a candidate receives more votes than the quota, the extra votes (or the surplus votes) are distributed among the rest of the contestants. If no candidates reach the quota on the first count, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their second choice votes are reassigned. This process will continue until all seats are assigned.
As for the key issues of these local elections, these will differ depending on the context.
Recently, political representatives from various national and local levels have vigorously conducted voter outreach activities throughout the country. Engaging voters at their homes and addressing their concerns has been a major part of their campaign. One of the primary issues that voters are troubled about is housing, which was highlighted as a significant concern in April’s poll. Other local matters such as infrastructure, road conditions, immigration, and transportation are also reported to be of concern to constituents. However, according to the personal account of several politicians, voters are particularly interested in local issues like the BusConnects initiative, a programme initiated by the National Transport Authority to upgrade bus services in Irish cities, among other local services and the state of local roads.
In regards to the number of candidates vying for positions in local and European elections, approximately 2,000 are running across 31 local authorities, spanning 166 local electoral areas (LEAs). Each of these areas is battling for between three to seven seats, with a total of 949 seats at stake. The European Elections, meanwhile, have a record-breaking 74 candidates fighting for just 14 seats. The European Union’s elections in June are distributed across three constituencies: Dublin (four seats), Midlands North-West (which will receive an additional seat in this election resulting in five) and Ireland South (five seats). Overall, 720 MEPs will be chosen across the European Union with seat allocation based on each member state’s population, ranging from a minimum of six to a maximum of 96.
If you’re a Limerick resident and curious about the selection process for a directly elected mayor and the associated responsibilities, here’s what you need to know. Any Limerick city or county resident who has their name on the register of electors and is 18 or above is eligible to vote. The new mayor will essentially head the Limerick City and County Council, assuming the responsibilities currently held by the chief executive. Tasks will include proposing a development plan, creating and executing a housing scheme for Limerick, preparing the yearly budget for approval by the elected councillors, and meeting with Ministers. A tenure of five years will be served by the individual selected for this role, with an annual salary of €154,134.
The Housing Department has announced that the existing chief executive will be promoted to the role of director general, thus assuming responsibility for the daily operations of the council. The director general will take charge of council finance management and accountability, supervise human resources, and administer both programmes and individual grants. This position will also involve managing all legal aspects related to these responsibilities.