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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Sam Roberts

How to vote in Irish European Parliament and local elections 2019

Campaigns for both the European Parliament and local council elections are in full swing ahead of polling day tomorrow.

Voters will also have their say on a proposal to change the Constitution of Ireland on how long a couple must be living apart to apply for a divorce.

Around 2,000 people who live on islands off the coasts of Donegal, Mayo and Galway have already cast their vote, as they head to the polls a day before the rest of the country.

Polling will officially take place for everyone else tomorrow, May 24, between 7am and 10pm. The referendum on divorce will also take place at the same time.

General view of a polling station (Niall Carson/PA Wire)
Presiding Officer Carmel McBride and Garda Adrian McGettigan carry a ballot box to the polling station on the island of Inishbofin. (Niall Carson/PA Wire)

So how do you cast your vote?

You will need to have registered to vote, meaning your name is on one of the following lists:

  • The main Register of Electors
  • The Postal Voters List
  • The Special Voters List
  • A supplement to one of these 3 lists

Once you are on this register you will receive your polling card. This will include information about your nearest polling station.

On the day, you need to bring your card and at least two forms of ID.

When you arrive at the station, sign in with the polling clerk and take your ballot paper.

As long as you are eligible to vote in all of the European Parliament Elections, the local elections and the divorce referendum, you will receive three separate sheets.

Presiding Officer Carmel McBride and Garda Adrian McGettigan carry a ballot box to the polling station on the island of Inishbofin. (Niall Carson/PA Wire)
Presiding Officer Carmel McBride and Garda Adrian McGettigan watch a dog named Lucky as a voter casts his vote at the polling station on the island of Inishbofin. (Niall Carson/PA Wire)

After you have made your choices, simply return to the ballot box to cast your vote.

A total of 59 European Parliament election candidates were approved by close of nominations at 12pm noon on Monday, April 15.

See the full list of Irish candidates for the 2019 European Parliament election below, broken down by constituency HERE.

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