How to vote in Ireland

Both the European and Local elections will take place in Ireland on 07 June 2024.

Voters in Ireland will elect 14 Members of the European Parliament in 2024, one more than in the 2019 elections.

Ireland uses a form of proportional representation called the single transferable vote (PRSTV). This means that voters rank the candidates, as many or as few as they wish, in order of choice. Candidates are numbered 1, 2, 3 and so on. To be elected, a candidate needs to receive a minimum number of votes, known as the quota.The quota is the minimum number of votes necessary to guarantee the election of a candidate. It is ascertained by dividing the total number of valid ballot papers by one more than the number of seats to be filled and adding one to the result. If the votes obtained by any candidate surpass the quota, they are immediately elected. All surplus votes obtained by an elected candidate (the difference between their vote and the quota) are then transferred to other candidates according to the preferences expressed by voters. Votes are recounted and other candidates who clear the quota are also elected. Candidates with the fewest votes are eliminated with their votes transferred to the voters’ second preference. The transfer of votes and elimination of candidates continues until all seats are filled.

The period for the nomination of candidates will start on 15 April 2024 and ends on 22 April for EU nationals other than Irish citizens and 30 April for Irish citizens.

The political parties are not known yet. The period for the nomination of candidates will start on 15 April 2024 and ends on 22 April for EU nationals other than Irish citizens and 30 April for Irish citizens.

Under the electoral system in Ireland, there is no minimum threshold.

The Electoral Commission completed a review of the constituencies for the European Parliament elections (November 2023). Recommendations to elect MEPs for 3 constituencies of Midlands-North West (5 MEPs), South (5 MEPs) and Dublin (4 MEPs) were laid before the Houses of Parliament on 27 November.

There is no legal obligation to vote in Ireland

You are eligible to vote in the European elections in Ireland if you are:

1. 18 years or older on election day;
2. registered to vote;
3. an Irish or an EU citizen who is ordinarily resident in Ireland.

Irish citizens residing in other EU Countries can vote in their country of residence.

Irish or EU citizen voting in Ireland
You have to vote in a specific polling station based on your place of residence. The address of the polling station is included on your polling card.
For more information, please visit the Citizens Information website.

Irish citizen voting from abroad
You cannot vote in an election or referendum in Ireland unless you are 18 years old or older, are ordinarily resident in Ireland and if your name is on the electoral register.
For more information, please visit the Citizens Information website.

Irish or EU citizen voting in Ireland
You need to be registered on the register of electors that is compiled each year by local authorities. If you were not registered at previous European elections in Ireland, you must apply for registration and complete a statutory declaration form (EP1) which is available from Country and City Councils. The statutory declarations are sent to the authorities of the Member State of the elector as well to guard against double voting.
Visit the website "checktheregister.ie" to find out if you are registered to vote, and if you are not, you will find the form to do it.
In Dublin visit the website "voter.ie".
You will need your (Personal Public Service Number) PPSN, Date of Birth (DOB) and Eircode. If you are 16 or 17 you can pre-register and your name will be added to the register when you turn 18.

Irish citizen voting from abroad
You can vote in the European Parliament elections in accordance with the laws of the Member State in which you reside.

You should bring some ID such as driving license, PPS card, or passport. A full list of acceptable ID is available on electoralcommission.ie. Acceptable ID is also listed on the back of your polling card and includes:

• a passport;
  
• a driving licence;
  
• an employee identity card containing a photograph;
  
• a student identity card issued by an educational institution and containing a photograph;
  
• a travel document containing name and photograph;
  
• a Bank or Savings or Credit Union book containing address in constituency;
  
• a Public Services Card;

or the following items accompanies by a further document which establishes the address of the holder in the constituency:

• a cheque book;
  
• a cheque card;
  
• a credit card;
  
• a birth certificate;
  
• a marriage certificate.

Those with an illness or disability, a visual impairment or a reading or writing disability will be able to avail of at least one of the following:

• Vote at an alternative polling station in the same constituency if the local station is inaccessible. You must apply in writing to the returning officer at least one week before polling day.
  
• Have help voting at the polling station from a companion or the presiding officer.
  
• Vote by post – if you have a disability or illness that prevents you from going to a polling station, you may qualify to vote by post. You must apply to your local authority to be included in the Postal Voters List by 11 May 2024.
  
• Vote at a hospital, nursing home or similar institution if it is your home, and if you have a disability or illness that prevents you from going to the polling station. You must apply to your local authority to be included in the Special Voters List by 11 May 2024.
  

To find out more, visit the page Facilities for voters with disabilities.

You may find easy-to-read information about elections on the European elections easy-to-read page of this website.

Postal voting is available only in a very limited number of circumstances and is subject to an application to vote by post received dayby 11 May 2024. The circimstances include the following.

Voting by post
Most voters have to vote in person at an official voting centre. However, you may be eligible for a postal vote if you are:

• An Irish diplomat posted abroad, or their spouse or civil partner who is living abroad with them
  
• A whole-time member of the Defence Forces
  

You may also be eligible for a postal vote if you cannot go to a polling station because:

• You have an illness or disability
  
• You are studying full time at an educational institution in Ireland, which is away from the home address where you are registered
  
• You cannot vote at your local polling station because of your occupation, service or employment
  
• You are unable to vote at your polling station because you are in prison as a result of an order of a court
  
• You are a member of the Garda Síochána
  
• You are registered as an anonymous elector, or you are part of the household of an anonymous elector

If you are registered as a postal voter, you can only vote by post. You cannot vote at a polling station.

Special Voters List
You may qualify to be on a Special Voters List if you live in a hospital, nursing home or similar institution and wish to vote at these locations. If you are applying for the first time you must send a medical certificate with your application.

To find out more, visit the page Postal Voters and Special Voters lists.

No, online voting is not possible in Ireland.

Proxy voting is not possible in Ireland.