Dáil Election Voters

Under legislation, the maximum life of a Dáil is five years. A general election occurs between 18 to 25 days (excluding Sundays, public holidays and Good Friday) after the Dáil is dissolved.

Every person who is an Irish or British citizen and is included in the register of Dáil electors in force on polling day is entitled to vote at a general election.

A Polling Information Card is issued to a voter in the days before polling day. The Polling Information Card tells you where to go to vote and the times that the polling station is open. It also tells you what identity documents to bring. You don’t need a Polling Information Card to vote.

You may be asked for evidence of identity at the polling station. These documents are acceptable for identification purposes.

(i) a passport

(ii) a driving licence

(iii) an employee identity card containing a photograph

(iv) a student identity card issued by an educational institution and containing a photograph

(v) a travel document containing name and photograph

(vi) a bank or savings or credit union book containing your address in the constituency or local electoral area (where appropriate)

(vii) a Public Services Card

or

any of the following accompanied by a further document which establishes the address of the holder in the constituency or local electoral area (where appropriate):

(viii) a cheque book

(ix) a cheque card

(x) a credit card

(xi) a birth certificate

(xii) a marriage certificate.

The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2015 introduced a new form of ballot paper for Dáil elections. This is a sample ballot paper.

You should carefully read the short instructions on the ballot paper given to you by the Presiding Officer. Write 1 in the box beside the candidate of your first choice, write 2 in the box beside the candidate of your second choice, and so on. You should not write anything else on the ballot paper – doing so may invalidate your vote.

A voter with a physical illness or physical disability, whose name is not on the postal or special voters list, and who may have difficulty gaining access to his or her local polling station may apply to have his or her vote transferred to a more accessible polling station in their constituency. This is one of the supports available for voters.

Read more about supports for voters.

The taking of photographs is not specifically prohibited in electoral law. However, the sharing of any photograph of a ballot paper marked or being marked at an election has the potential to compromise the integrity and secrecy of the ballot. The taking of such photographs or ‘selfies’ is not, therefore, allowed in polling stations.

There are 43 Dáil constituencies. These constituencies were provided for in law through the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023. View maps of the Dáil constituencies.

When a Dáil vacancy arises, the Dáil directs the Ceann Comhairle (chairman) of the Dáil to direct the Clerk of the Dáil to issue the writ for a bye-election. This must be issued as soon as practicable after a period of vacancy of six months, if the Dáil has not directed the Ceann Comhairle to direct the Clerk of the Dáil before then.

Read about who can run in a Dáil election and about spending and reimbursement limits for candidates .

Read more information on how the Dáil is elected.

Read more on how PR-STV works

Register to vote or update your voter registration details.