Elections 2024: As D-Day nears, here’s all you need to know!

LIMERICK and the rest of Ireland will head to the polls this Friday, June 7, for local and European elections.
And, for the first time, the electorate across Limerick city and county will also be voting to elect an executive mayor.

Here’s what you need to know:

What are the dates and times for polling in these elections?

Polling takes place for the local, European and mayoral election on Friday, June 7 between 7am and 10pm. A polling information card will be sent to your home address, and this will have the details about your local polling station, which should be nearby.

What will I need in order to vote?

It’s always advisable to have your polling information card with you but you can vote without it; just make sure to bring a valid form of personal ID. This could include the following: a passport, a driving licence, a public services card, or an employee or student identity card with a photograph.

Who can vote in these three elections?

Irish citizens aged 18 and over who are on the register of electors can vote in the European election.

If you’re an Irish citizen currently living in another EU country, you are able to vote in that country.

If you are from another EU member state but are living in Ireland you can vote in the European election in Ireland. However, British voters in Ireland can only vote in the local and mayoral counts.

The difference with local elections - and the mayoral count - is that you do not have to be an Irish citizen to vote.

As long as you are over 18 years of age, live in the relevant local electoral area and are listed on the register of electors you can cast your vote.

Voters can check the register online at checktheregister.ie as well as at the offices of Limerick City and County Council.

What should I expect when I arrive at the polling station?

Ireland uses proportional representation (PR) for voting in elections with each voter having a single transferable vote (STV).

Using the PR-STV system means that voters can vote for as many or as few candidates in order of their preference.

Each ballot paper contains short instructions on how to vote, which you should read and follow carefully. The ballot paper will also show a list of names, in alphabetical order, party emblems and images of each candidate.

There will be a box to the right of each candidates name. You mark your preference for each candidate in the box to the right.

You mark a ‘1’ in the box beside your first choice candidate and, if you wish, a ‘2’ in the box beside your second choice candidate, a ‘3’ in the box beside your third choice candidate, and so on. If you do not want to fill out a preference for all candidates on the ballot paper, the box beside those you are not voting for must be empty.

What happens after the polls close?

Following closure of the polls, the votes will be transferred to Limerick Racecourse in Patrickswell. On Saturday morning, sorting of ballot papers into European, local and mayoral bundles will take place.

Tallymen and women will be keeping an eagle eye to find out how candidates have performed, with the ballot papers becoming visible for the first time. European election bundles will be sent to Cork for counting for the wider Ireland South constituency.

On Saturday afternoon, counting of local election papers will begin. Six counts covering each ward in both Limerick city and county are expected to take place simultaneously over two floors of Limerick Racecourse. Counting is expected to continue deep into the evening, and recommence on Sunday.

By close of business on Sunday, a fuller picture will emerge of the 40 councillors the Limerick public has chosen to represent them.

Once the full make-up of the council is known, it will then be onto the count for the directly elected mayor. It's anticipated this will kick off on Monday morning, although unforeseen circumstances including recounts could delay this.