Over 3.4 million registered voters in the Republic of Ireland will cast their ballots to elect members to the 34th Dáil, with 173 TDs up for grabs following a three-week election campaign.
Irish General Election: Voters Prepare to Select New TDs for the Dáil
Irish General Election: Voters Prepare to Select New TDs for the Dáil
Polling stations open on Friday, as Ireland heads to the polls for a decisive general election.
Polling stations across the Republic of Ireland are set to open on Friday from 07:00 to 22:00 local time, allowing citizens to select representatives to the Dáil, the lower house of the Oireachtas. The electorate is tasked with filling 173 Teachtaí Dála (TDs), as one seat is automatically allocated to the Ceann Comhairle (Speaker). With the total number of TDs rising from 160 in 2020 to 174, an overall majority will require 88 seats.
The election format allows for a broad participation of candidates, including representatives from the three prominent parties: the outgoing coalition partners Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, along with the leading opposition party, Sinn Féin. Additionally, voters will have the option to choose from various smaller parties and a notable number of independent candidates.
Vote counting is scheduled to commence on Saturday, anticipated to progress through the weekend and possibly into the following week. The first session of the newly elected 34th Dáil is slated for December 18 at 10:30. The assembly will formally establish a government after sanctioning a vote to appoint a new taoiseach (prime minister) who will lead the country post-election.
For citizens to qualify to vote, they must be at least 18 years old, hold Irish or British citizenship, reside in Ireland, and be registered on the electoral roll. More than 3.4 million people meet these criteria, demonstrating robust democratic engagement in the Republic of Ireland as they prepare to shape the country's political landscape.
