Big Laois towns dominate General Election voting locations as rural identity diminishes
More than a quarter of polling areas are in Laois
While Laois is regarded as an rural county the big influence of town voters is revealed in the list of polling stations published by the Office of the Returning Officer.
A total of 114 polling stations will operate in the new Laois General Election constituency on Friday, November 29.
Hundreds of staff will be on duty from 7am to 10pm on polling day at locations in the four corners of Laois.
The impact of votes in the big towns of Portlaoise, Portarlington, Mountmellick and Graiguecullen on voting is revealed by the fact that just over 50 Laois polling stations are located in urban areas.
Portlaoise leads the way with 29 locations split between the Holy Family junior and senior schools and the Scoil Bhríde in Knockmay. There are 18 booths alone in the Holy Family schools.
This high number of voters in Portlaoise rural and urban areas is reflective of the rapid population growth which has occured in the county town which has been a key driver in Laois being deemed a standalone three- seat constituency by the Electoral Commission.
The Commission based its decision on the 2022 Census which found that a quarter, 23,494, of the Laois population, 91657, now lives in Portlaoise.
Portarlington and Mountmellick have nine polling booths each while the rapidly grown Graiguecullen has five polling stations at St Fiacc's National School.
The location and number of General Election polling stations is the responsibility of the Returning Officer who is Rory Hanniffy.