Dáil Election Candidates

The period for receipt of nominations commences at 10am on Saturday 18 January and ends at 12 noon on Wednesday 22 January.

Candidates may nominate themselves or be nominated by a Dáil elector for the constituency. Nomination forms may be obtained from the returning officer. The forms are prescribed by the Minister in Statutory Instrument No. 481 of 2019.

Candidates should obtain the Certificate of Political Affiliation from their political parties.

The Statutory Declaration, to be completed by Assentors, is prescribed by the Minister in Statutory Instrument No. 481 of 2019. It is also available from Returning Officers and registration authorities.

The candidate or proposer is responsible for ensuring that the completed nomination paper is delivered to the returning officer before the closing time for receipt of nominations at the election.

Candidates at the General Election are entitled to send one item free of any charge for postage to each household in their constituency. The free-post facility is subject to a number of general requirements. These are set out in section 57 of the Electoral Act 1992.

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 S.I. No. 113 of 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.

Candidates, Election Agents and Third Parties should contact the Standards in Public Office Commission for guidance on these requirements.