Dáil Elections 2024/25 Past Paper PDF

**Constitutional Frameworks** ============================= **2024/25** =========== **Week 4** ========== **(2 October 2024)** ==================== John O'Dowd **Dáil elections** ------------------ - ### **Franchise** - ### **Registration of electors** - ### **Method of Voting** - #...

**Constitutional Frameworks** ============================= **2024/25** =========== **Week 4** ========== **(2 October 2024)** ==================== John O'Dowd **Dáil elections** ------------------ - ### **Franchise** - ### **Registration of electors** - ### **Method of Voting** - ### **Eligibility** - ### **Nomination** - ### **Ballot Paper** - ### **Registration of Political Parties** - ### **Electoral System** - ### **Voting** - ### **Constituencies** - ### **Proportional Representation** - ### **Funding of Political Parties, Political donations and election expenditure** - ### **Composition of the Seanad** **Right to Vote (Art 16.1.2°)** =============================== - Citizenship ----------- ### (*i*) citizen of Ireland *or* ### (*ii*) *other* person ***in the State*** as may be determined by law - #### British citizen ([[Electoral Act, 1992 s 8(2)]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1992/act/23/section/8/enacted/en/html#sec8)) - #### *Other EU: reciprocity ([[s 8(3)]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1992/act/23/section/8/enacted/en/html#sec8))* - Age: 18 or older ---------------- - *\**Not disqualified by law *(no provision)* -------------------------------------------- - Comply with electoral law, *eg* produce identity document ([[s 111]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/ZZA23Y1992S111.html)) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **Citizenship** =============== - Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 1983: proposed that *British* citizens should also have the right to vote at a Presidential or a Dáil election or at a referendum - *Re Article 26 & Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 1983* \[1983\] IR 268 - Repugnant to Constitution - Art 16 is a 'total code' for conducting Dáil elections & doesn't mention anyone but *Irish* citizens having right to vote - Also repugnant to give the right to vote at a Presidential election or a referendum - the citizens who can vote at such polls are "the People" referred to Art 6; their authority can't be diluted by enfranchising non-citizens - Ninth Amendment of the Constitution Act, 1984 -- Oireachtas may give non-citizens vote at Dáil elections, but not at a Presidential election or a referendum **Register of Electors** ======================== - ***Registration***: [[Electoral Act, 1992 s 8]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1992/act/23/section/8/enacted/en/html#sec8) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - *The [[Electoral Reform Act 2022]](https://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/2022/act/30/revised/en/html) has made significant changes* ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - The register is now continuously updated to reflect changes in citizenship (Electoral Act, 1992 Sch II, r 31, as inserted by the [[Electoral Reform Act, 2022 s 106(g)]](https://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/2022/act/30/revised/en/html#SEC106), address (r 30, also inserted by the 2022 Act) and age (Electoral Act, 1992 s 11(2), as substituted by the [[Electoral Reform Act 2022 s 84(a)]](https://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/2022/act/30/revised/en/html#SEC84)) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - For the purposes of the last kind of updating, there is now also a "pending electors list" of 16- and 17-year-olds (Electoral Act, 1992 s 17A, as inserted by the [[Electoral Reform Act 2022 s 95]](https://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/2022/act/30/revised/en/html#SEC95)) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - The 2022 Act also allows, for the first time: --------------------------------------------- - registration of persons with no fixed address (Electoral Act, 1992 s 11(7), as inserted by the [[Electoral Reform Act 2022 s 84(e)]](https://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/2022/act/30/revised/en/html#SEC84)) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - registration of "anonymous electors" (on personal safety grounds) (Electoral Act, 1992 s 15E, as inserted by the [[Electoral Reform Act 2022 s 93]](https://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/2022/act/30/revised/en/html#SEC93)) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ***Reynolds v AG*** =================== - High Court, 16 February 1973 ---------------------------- - [[Fourth Amendment of the Constitution Act, 1972]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1972/en/act/cam/0004/index.html) -- reduced voting age to 18 (effective from 5 Jan 1973) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - General election (28 Feb) on *old* register (operative until 15 April: [[SI No 169/1963]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1963/en/si/0169.html)), including over 20s only ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - 18-year-old *lost* action seeking vote -------------------------------------- **Where do 3rd level students 'ordinarily reside'?** ==================================================== - *Quinn v Waterford Corp* \[1991\] 2 IR 507; \[1991\] ILRM 433 ------------------------------------------------------------- - Third-level students living away from home during term ------------------------------------------------------ - "ordinarily resident" at *both* addresses ----------------------------------------- - Entitled to be registered *twice* --------------------------------- **Student registration to vote** ================================ - [[Electoral Act, 1992 s 11(1)(*a*)]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0011.html#sec11): P shall ***not*** be registered as an elector ***more than once*** -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ### If necessary, P may ***choose*** where to be registered ([[s 11(1)(*b*)]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0011.html#sec11)) - ### Full-time students now entitled to a ***postal vote*** ([[Electoral Act, 1997 s 63(2)]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1997/en/act/pub/0025/sec0063.html#sec63)) **Persons in custody** ====================== - Person detained in legal custody is deemed to be ordinarily resident where s/he ***would have been*** ***residing*** but for having been in legal custody ([[s 11(5)]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0011.html#sec11)) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Similarly: mental health detainees ([[s 11(6)]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0011.html#sec11)) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - No one is *disqualified* from voting ------------------------------------ - *eg* prisoner on ***temporary release*** can vote ***at a polling station*** - but had NO POSTAL VOTE ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **Manner of voting** ==================== - **[[Electoral Act, 1992 s 38]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0038.html#sec38) General Rule:** P is entitled to vote ***in person only*** & ***at the polling station allotted to him or her*** (ss [[38(1)]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0038.html#sec38), [[96 to 111]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1992/act/23/enacted/en/html), as amended by the 2022 Act) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - #### **Exception 1:** ***Postal voter*** sends in a ballot paper by post ([[s 38(2)]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0038.html)) - #### **Exception 2: *Special voter*** votes in presence of special presiding officer & Garda ([[s 38(3)]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0038.html)) - #### **Exception 3:** Returning officer's employee or disabled person may be authorised to vote at ***different polling station*** (ss [](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0099.html#sec99) & [](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0100.html#sec100)) **"Simple" Postal Voting** ========================== - [[Electoral Act, 1992 s 14 (*a*), (*b*), (*d*)]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0014.html#sec14), (*e*); [[Electoral (Amendment) Act, 1996 s 4(1)(*a*)]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1996/en/act/pub/0043/sec0004.html#sec4)) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ### Gardaí - ### Defence Forces - ### People with an illness or disability ([[Electoral Reform Act 2022 s 90(2)(b)(iii)]](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2022/en/act/pub/0030/sec0090.html#sec90) added "illness" and removed the need for the disability to be "physical") persons who are ordinarily resident in ***their own home*** or (added by the [[Electoral Reform Act 2022 s 90(1)(a))]](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2022/en/act/pub/0030/sec0090.html#sec90) patients or inmates in any hospital or home for persons suffering from mental disability or similar institution - ### Anonymous voters (Electoral Act, 1992 s 14(*e*), inserted by [[Electoral Reform Act 2022 s 90(2)(b)(iv)]](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2022/en/act/pub/0030/sec0090.html#sec90)) ### - Ballot paper sent to voter by *post,* completed by voter *without supervision* & returned by post ([[Electoral Act, 1992 ss 64, 66 to 77]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0064.html#partxiii)) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **"Supervised" postal voting** ============================== - [[Electoral Act, 1997 s 63]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1997/en/act/pub/0025/sec0063.html) ("occupation, service, or employment... likely... unable to go in person on polling day to vote... " -- includes ***full-time education*** in the State) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Ballot posted to voter, completed ***in a Garda station in presence of a Garda*** (witness), voter returns by post ([[s 68]](http://www.legislation.ie/1997/en/act/pub/0025/sec0068.html#sec68)) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - Diplomats on foreign service & spouses, ***if Irish citizens*** (Electoral Act, 1992 ss [[14(*c*),]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0014.html) [[64 to 77]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0064.html#partxiii)) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Prisoners, under the supervision of a prison officer (see below) ---------------------------------------------------------------- **Special Voting: Origin** ========================== - ***Draper v AG*** \[1984\] IR 277; \[1984\] ILRM 539 ---------------------------------------------------- - [*[Electoral (Amendment) (No 2) Act, 1986]*](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1986/en/act/pub/0035/index.html)---[[Electoral Act, 1992](http://www.bailii.org/ie/legis/num_act/ea1992103/index.html) [ss 17,](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0017.html#sec17)] [[78 to 84]](http://www.legislation.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0078.html#partxiv)---[[Electoral (Amendment) Act, 1996 s 4(1)(*d*)]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1996/en/act/pub/0043/sec0004.html) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **Special Voting: Procedure** ============================= - Special voters--- ----------------- - ### unable to go to polling place by reason of physical illness or disability ### ***[and]*** - ### ordinarily resident in hospital, home, or similar [institution] for persons with a *physical* illness or disability - Voting by special voters ([[ss 78 to 84]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0078.html#partxiv)) (in presence of a special presiding officer and a Garda) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Where the special presiding officer cannot access the place where the special voter resides, a postal vote may be given instead: s 84A (as inserted by [[Electoral Reform Act 2022 s 103]](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2022/en/act/pub/0030/sec0103.html#sec103)) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [***[Breathnach v Ireland]***](http://www.bailii.org/ie/cases/IESC/2001/59.html) ============================================================================================ - [[\[2001\] 3 IR 230]](http://www.bailii.org/ie/cases/IESC/2001/59.html) (SC) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Convict serving 10- & 15-year sentences --------------------------------------- - Not disqualified; registered as elector --------------------------------------- - No *opportunity* to vote provided (*eg* postal vote)---discrimination? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - *Draper* reaffirmed - State *not* obliged to *ensure* that *every* voter has an *opportunity* to exercise right to vote ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ***Draper* reaffirmed** ======================= - Inability to vote result of prisoner's *voluntary act* ------------------------------------------------------ - "restriction... at least as reasonable as \[that\] on the disabled" (before 1986) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Right to vote 'suspended' or 'in abeyance' during imprisonment -------------------------------------------------------------- - *Remand* prisoners presumed innocent, but in *lawful* custody & their right to vote is also suspended (Keane CJ) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - No absolute right to vote - "special role of the legislature" (Denham J) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [***[Hirst v United Kingdom (No 2)]***](http://www.worldlii.org/eu/cases/ECHR/2005/681.html) ======================================================================================================== - *All* UK prisoners were legally incapable of voting while serving their sentences: Representation of the People Act 1983 s 3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights held that this violated Article 3 of Protocol No 1 to the [[European Convention on Human Rights]](http://www.echr.coe.int/NR/rdonlyres/D5CC24A7-DC13-4318-B457-5C9014916D7A/0/EnglishAnglais.pdf): App No 74025/01; \[2005\] ECHR 681 (6 October 2005) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Decision implies that [failing to make *any* provision] for any prisoners to vote also violates Article 3 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [**[Electoral (Amendment) Act 2006]**](https://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/2006/act/33/revised/en/html) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - All prisoners (on remand and convicted) are entitled to a postal vote --------------------------------------------------------------------- - Casting of votes is supervised by a prison officer ([[s 7]](https://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/2006/act/33/revised/en/html#id1164729600.9)) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **Who can be elected?** ======================= - **Art 16.1.1°** --------------- - ### citizen of Ireland (also [[s 41(*a*)/1992]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0041.html)) - ### **** years old or more (see s 41(*b*)/1991 as amended by [[s 15/2001]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2001/act/38/section/15/enacted/en/html)) - ### Not under ***disability*** or ***incapacity*** - ***Constitutional Provisions*** ------------------------------- - ### President (Art 12.6.1°) - ### Comptroller & Auditor General (Art. 33.3) - ### Judges (Art. 35.3) ("not *eligible*...") - ### Senators: eligible but vacate Seanad seat (Art 15.14) [**["Law": Electoral Act 1992 s 41]**](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0041.html) ==================================================================================================================== - EU office holders (*eg* Commissioner, judge of European Court of Justice) ((*c*) - (*e*)) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Garda Síochána ((*f*)) ---------------------- - Whole-time member of the Defence Forces ((*g*)) ----------------------------------------------- - Civil servant whose terms of employment do not expressly permit Dáil membership ((*h*)) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ~~Unsound mind ((*i*))~~ (repealed by [[Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022 s 97]](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2022/act/46/section/97/enacted/en/html)) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - Undergoing a sentence of imprisonment of more than six months imposed by a court in the State ((*j*)) (amended by [[Criminal Law Act, 1997 Sch 3]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/gen301997a.html)) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ~~Undischarged bankrupt under an adjudication made by a court within the State ((*k*))~~ (repealed by [[Electoral (Amendment) Act 2014 s 1]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2014/en/act/pub/0008/print.html#sec1)) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - A TD ceases to be a member of the Dáil if he or she incurs an incapacity or disability referred to in s 41 ([[s 42(1)(a)]](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1992/act/23/section/42/enacted/en/html)), is appointed to a post referred to in s 41 ([[s 42(1)(b)]](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1992/act/23/section/42/enacted/en/html)), is appointed under the Constitution as a Judge, or Comptroller and Auditor General ([[s 42(1)(c)]](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1992/act/23/section/42/enacted/en/html)) or is deemed to be elected as Mayor of Limerick (s 42(1)(d), as inserted by the [[Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2024 s 38(j)(ii)]](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2024/act/7/section/38/enacted/en/html)) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **End of "dual mandate"** ========================= - [[Local Government Act, 2001]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2001/act/37/enacted/en/html) s 13A ([[Local Government (No 2) Act, 2003 s 2]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2003/act/17/section/2/enacted/en/html#sec2)) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Councillors may run for Dáil/Seanad; if elected lose *council* membership; TDs and Senators are incapable of serving as members of a local authority ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - [*[Ring v AG]*](http://www.bailii.org/ie/cases/IEHC/2004/14.html) \[2004\] 1 IR 185; \[2004\] 2 ILRM 378 (HC) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - s 13A upheld as constitutional ------------------------------ - ### no right to seek election to a local authority under Art 28A - ### no interference with Art 16.1.1º - ### no interference with Art 40.1 *or,* if there was, it was "reasonable & proportionate" **Nomination** ============== - [**[Electoral Act, 1992 s 46]**](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0046.html) (as enacted) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ### Proposer (self or by Registered Elector) - ### Deposit (€375) - ### Name of Candidate (***not*** misleading, unduly long, or containing political reference) - **Deposit was returned ([[s 48]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0048.html)) if candidate** ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - ### withdrew - ### died - ### was elected - ### obtained, at any stage, 25% of a quota [***[Redmond v Minister for Environment]***](http://www.bailii.org/ie/cases/IEHC/2001/128.html) =========================================================================================================== - [[\[2001\] 4 IR 61 (HC)]](http://www.bailii.org/ie/cases/IEHC/2001/128.html) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Too poor to pay £300 in 1992, 1997 ---------------------------------- - Deposit invalid *per se* ------------------------ - ### Power to impose disabilities & incapacities "limited" -- Arts 5, 6 & *Re Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 1983* \[1984\] IR 268; Mat 94 *--* "weighty & objective reasons" - ### Art 16.7 = "procedural & administrative rules & measures for the proper & orderly conduct of elections" **Inequality** ============== - Art 40.1 (equality) violated ---------------------------- - ### Considerable % of population deterred from standing - ### Excluding poor from political participation attacks dignity as human beings - ### Property qualification for jurors is unconstitutional (*De Búrca v AG* \[1976\] IR 38) - ### Alternatives -- signatures [**[Electoral (Amendment) Act, 2002 s 1(*d*)]**](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2002/en/act/pub/0004/sec0001.html) ============================================================================================================================== - Election deposit abolished -------------------------- - Candidate's nomination valid if--- ---------------------------------- - ### (*a*) a candidate for a registered political party ### *or* - ### (*b*) nomination assented to by 30 persons (other than candidate & proposer) registered as Dáil electors in the constituency) - Assentor must sign nomination paper & produce prescribed photographic identification to local official ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Subsequent cases** ==================== - [*[King v Minister for the Environment]*](http://www.bailii.org/ie/cases/IEHC/2003/119.html) \[2004\] 3 IR 345 (HC): new system upheld as constitutional -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - [*[Riordan v Minister for the Environment]*](http://www.bailii.org/ie/cases/IEHC/2005/H44.html) (HC---Carney J 23.02.2005) -- followed *King* --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [***[King v Minister for Environment; Cooney v Minister for Environment]***](https://www.bailii.org/ie/cases/IESC/2006/S61.html) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - \[2006\] IESC 61; \[2007\] 1 IR 296 ----------------------------------- - *Riordan* was overruled in relation to the scope of Art 16.7; that provision *does* entitle the Oireachtas to impose requirements such as a deposit, signatures or the support of a registered political party -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - However, the requirement on assentors to attend in person at *one* specific office only in each local authority area was "an undue impediment on the otherwise lawful right of the candidate to be nominated" and was invalid ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [**[Electoral (Amendment) Act 2007]**](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2007/act/14/enacted/en/html) - The option of paying a €500 deposit was restored, now as an alternative to being supported by a registered political party or obtaining 30 signatures (without them having to attend personally at one specific place) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **Gender** - Candidate's gender must be stated on nomination paper: [[Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Act 2012 s 43]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2012/act/36/section/43/enacted/en/html) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **Ballot Paper** ================ - Candidates listed ***alphabetically:*** [[Electoral Act, 1992 s 88(2)(*a*)]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0088.html) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - *O\'Reilly v Minister for the Environment* \[1986\] IR 143 (HC) --------------------------------------------------------------- - ### Unfairness alleged; provision upheld - ### Reasonable regulation of Dáil elections - ### Voter able to *find* names of preferred candidates easily **Registration of Political Parties** ===================================== - Candidates of ***registered*** political parties (*a*) do not require 30 assentors & (*b*) may have party affiliation shown on ballot ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Alternative: "Non Party" or blank --------------------------------- - Registration of Political Parties ([[Electoral Reform Act 2022 ss 41-55]](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2022/en/act/pub/0030/sec0041.html#part2-chap6)) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - "organised to contest elections" (Dáil, local or European): [[Electoral Reform Act 2022 s 45(*a*)]](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2022/act/30/section/45/enacted/en/html#sec45) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - *Loftus v AG* \[1979\] IR 221 (SC) ---------------------------------- **Specific Requirements** ========================= - Under [[Electoral Reform Act 2022 s 45(b)]](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2022/act/30/section/45/enacted/en/html#sec45) a registered party must have ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - #### at least 300 recorded members over 18 - at least half registered electors *or* - #### at least one TD or MEP elected #### *and* - #### a constitution or other set of written rules - #### annual or other periodic conferences - #### an executive committee or similar body elected "by the party" **Method of Voting** ==================== - **Art 16.1.4°** --------------- - ### No voter may exercise more than 1 vote - ### Voting shall be by secret ballot - **Art 16.4.1°** --------------- - ### Polling as far as practicable on the same day throughout the country - ### Advance polling (islands) ([[Electoral Act, 1992 s 86]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0086.html), as amended by [[Electoral Reform Act 2022 s 200]](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2022/act/30/section/200/enacted/en/html#sec200)) - General election every *at least* every --------------------------------------- - ### 7 years (Art 16.5) - ### 5 years ([[Electoral Act, 1992 s 33]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0033.html#sec33)) ### **Secret Ballot (Art 16.1.4º)** =============================== - Before 1972, voter number noted on counterfoil, to trace unlawful votes ----------------------------------------------------------------------- - *McMahon v AG* \[1972\] IR 277; 106 ILTR 89 (SC) ------------------------------------------------ - This practice was unconstitutional ---------------------------------- - "Secret to the ***voter***... ***nothing*** shall be done which would make it ***possible*** to violate that secrecy" (held, 3 to 2) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **Voting by Blind, Incapicitated or Illiterate Voters** - A blind, incapicitated or illiterate voter is entitled to have his or her ballot paper marked by a companion ([[s 103(3)]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0103.html) as amended by [[Electoral (Amendment) Act, 2001 s 26]](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2001/act/38/section/26/enacted/en/html)) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - If such a voter does not request that a companion mark the ballot paper (or his or her chosen companion is not qualified to do so: [[s 103(4)]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0103.html)) "the presiding officer shall, in the presence of the elector and the personation agents and no other person, mark a ballot paper as instructed by such elector" ([[s 103(5)]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0023/sec0103.html)) - Voters in wheelchairs are to be facilitated: s 94(1A), (5)(i) as inserted by [[Electoral (Amendment) Act 1996 s 3(1(a),(c)]](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1996/act/43/section/3/enacted/en/html)) - A returning officer shall make "such arrangements as the Minister may provide for by regulations as may serve to facilitate voters with visual impairments to mark their ballot papers without assistance" (s 94(5)(j) as inserted by [[Electoral (Amendment) Act 1996 s 3(1)(c)]](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1996/act/43/section/3/enacted/en/html)) - [[Electoral Regulations 2016]](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2016/si/537) (SI No 537 of 2016) lays down the general specifications for the ballot paper templates to be used at a referendum; first employed at the referendum on the Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018 in May 2018 - A case was brought to have this implemented for other kinds of poll: [*[Sinnott v Minister for the Environment]*](https://www.bailii.org/ie/cases/IEHC/2017/H214.html) \[2017\] IEHC 214 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - [[Elections (Ballot Paper Template) Regulations 2019]](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2019/si/196/) (SI No 196 of 2019) lays down the general specifications for the ballot paper templates to be used at at Dáil, European Parliament and local elections; ditto the [[Presidential Elections (Ballot Paper Template) Regulations 2018]](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2018/si/395/made/en/) (SI No 395 of 2018) for presidential elections) - Ballot paper templates were first used at the 2018 presidential election, the 2019 European and local elections, four Dáil by-elections held in November 2019 and then at the general election in 2020 and subsequently: [[https://www.ncbi.ie/ge-2020-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-tactile-ballot-paper-template-with-free-phone-constituency-numbers/]](https://www.ncbi.ie/ge-2020-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-tactile-ballot-paper-template-with-free-phone-constituency-numbers/) - For general information about voting by people with disabilities, see: [[https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/a7cc7-dail-election-voters/\#electors-with-physical-illness-or-physical-disability]](https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/a7cc7-dail-election-voters/#electors-with-physical-illness-or-physical-disability) **Electronic Voting** ===================== - [[Electoral (Amendment) Act, 2001, Part 3]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2001/en/act/pub/0038/sec0035.html#partiii); [[Electoral (Amendment) Act 2004]](http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2004/en/act/pub/0015/index.html) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Postal/special voter used paper ballot -------------------------------------- - Polling stations had ***voting machines*** ------------------------------------------ - Machine ***displayed*** a "ballot paper" ---------------------------------------- - Voter entered preferences, pushed a button ------------------------------------------ - Electronic record of vote on cartridge or disk ---------------------------------------------- - Returning officer inputted paper ballots ---------------------------------------- - "constituency vote counting machine" ------------------------------------ **Electronic Voting: Implementation** ===================================== - Meath, Dublin North & Dublin West in 2002 ----------------------------------------- - Objections--- ------------- - ### How can a result be audited or verified? - ### Proprietary code was not made available for testing - ### Didn't permit a 'spoiled' vote - ### Beeped each time the voter pressed a button - ### Votes from 2002 published on the Internet - Commission on Electronic Voting (Archived webpage: [[https://web.archive.org/web/20061129192632/http://www.cev.ie/index.htm]](https://web.archive.org/web/20061129192632/http://www.cev.ie/index.htm)) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - *[[Interim Report]](http://opac.oireachtas.ie/Data/Library3/Library2/DL049990.pdf)* (29 April 2004) didn't recommend system for 2004 elections ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - *[[Second Report]](https://web.archive.org/web/20061130010118/http://www.cev.ie/htm/report/download_second.htm)* (4 July 2006) -- voting and voting counting *equipment* could be used with modifications; election management *software* was too defective to be recommended ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Project was finally "killed off" in April 2009: [[https://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0423/116606-evoting/]](https://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0423/116606-evoting/) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **The Constituencies (Art 16.2)** ================================= - Determined by law (1°) ---------------------- - Each has at least ***3*** TDs (6°) ---------------------------------- - Revised at least once every 12 years (based on last preceding census) (4°) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- - TDs : population in constituency shall ***so far as it is practicable*** be the ***same*** throughout the country (3°) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ***Total size of Dáil***: 1 TD per \>20K - \