Summer date finally fixed for local and European elections in Laois

Voters and election candidates in Laois and other counties have finally had polling day confirmed by the Government for the local and European Elections.

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien confirmed on April 5 that made orders appointing Friday, June 7 2024 as the polling day. People will be able to cast their votes around Laois at polling stations from 7 am to 10 pm for candidates who want to represent them in the European Parliament and on Laois County Council.

A statement from the Minister's Department said the local authority returning officer in Laois will also give public notice of the times for receiving nominations and of the application requirements for local elections.

A total of 19 seats are up for grabs on Laois County Council. There are 7 seats available in the Portlaoise Municipal District with the remaining 12 split equally between the Graiguecullen / Portarlington and Borris-in-Ossory / Mountmellick Municipal Districts.

There six Fianna Fáil and six Fine Gael councillors share power on the council with the support of one independent councillor. There are two Sinn Féin representatives and one Labour councillor. One of the four independent councillors left Fine Gael since the last local elections.  MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Pictured: Counting votes in St Mary's Hall Portlaoise.

Voter registration

The Department says a person eligible to vote but not yet registered as an elector still has time to apply for entry in the register of electors. To be eligible to vote a person must be 18 years of age or over on or before polling day and be ordinarily resident in the constituency in which you wish to vote. You must also be included on the Register of Electors.

Everyone is encouraged to check that their details are correct and up to date at www.checktheregister.ie

Eligible voters who are not on the register, or who need to update their details, for example because they have moved house, can do so by submitting an online application at www.checkthereigster.ieor by submitting a form to their local authority. Relevant application forms are available from City, County or City and County Councils (these are the registration authorities) or online at www.checktheregister.ie.

Completed applications must be received by the registration authority for the area in which you reside by Monday, 20 May 2024.

If anybody who eligible to vote by post, or is unable to vote in person due to an illness or disability and is resident in a hospital, nursing home, mental health facility or similar institution, and they are not on the Postal Voters List or Special Voters List, as appropriate, they can apply up to Saturday, 11 May 2024 for inclusion in those lists.

Application forms are available from City, County or City and County Councils and online at www.checktheregister.ie.

Election posters

With arrangements for the 2024 local elections now set, the Minister clarified the time period during which candidates can exhibit election posters. Candidates can only erect posters from 8 May 2024, which is 30 days before the polling date. There is a requirement for candidates to remove all posters within 7 days of the poll.

Pictured election tallyman in Portlaoise.

Mr. Fergus Gallagher, Dublin County Sheriff, will be returning officer for the 4 seat Dublin constituency. Ms. Marian Chambers Higgins, Galway County Registrar, will be returning officer for the 5 seat Midlands-North-West constituency. Mr. Martin Harvey, Cork City Sheriff, will be returning officer for the 5 seat South constituency. The three constituencies are specified in the Electoral Amendment (Amendment) Act 2023.

European election candidate nominations

The returning officers for the three European constituencies will in the coming days give public notice of the times for receiving nominations and of the application requirements.

Voters in Limerick will also be voting in a new Mayoral election.