Information for Candidates

Opening of Postal Votes

The Returning Officer and County Registrar will officially open the Postal Votes which have been cast at 2pm on Friday 7th June in County Hall, Dundalk.

Candidates and Agents are welcome to attend to view this process.

Notice re. Election Posters

Candidates and Agents are reminded on the requirements of Section 147 of the Electoral Act 1992, as amended, about the removal of posters from an area of 50 metres from all Polling Stations, from 0630hrs to 2030hrs on the Day of Polling and the right of voters the unhindered access to Polling Stations.  Please click on this link to view the Electoral Act 1992 .

Election Posters

For frequently asked questions on the Election 2024 Posters please click here

Please see guidance from Transport Infrastructure Ireland regarding safety, Election Posters, Banners etc. here

Nominated Candidates

The Nomination period for the 2024 Local Elections has now passed (12noon on May 18th). 

A total of 77 candidates have been nominated across the 5 Local Electoral Areas (LEA’s), as follows:

Ardee:                               16 nominees

Dundalk Carlingford:        14 nominees

Dundalk South:                 15 nominees

Drogheda Rural:               12 nominees

Drogheda Urban:             20 nominees

Please click here to view the complete list of nominees in each LEA: 

2024 Notice of Nominations - Ardee 

2024 Notice of Nominations - Dundalk-Carlingford

2024 Notice of Nominations - Dundalk South

2024 Notice of Nominations - Drogheda Rural 

2024 Notice of Nominations - Drogheda Urban

Rules for candidates

You are eligible to be elected to a local authority if you are ordinarily resident in Ireland and you are at least 18 years old. You do not have to be an Irish citizen.

You are disqualified from becoming a member of a local authority if you are:

• A member of the European Commission, Parliament or Courts
• A member of Dáil Éireann or Seanad Éireann
• An Ceann Comhairle (the Chairman of the Dáil) or an Cathaoirleach (the Chairman of the Seanad)
• A member of an Garda Síochána or a full-time member of the Irish defence forces
• A judge
• A member of the Court of Auditors of the European Communities
• The Comptroller and Auditor General
• A civil servant - where it does not specifically state in your contract of employment that you may be a member of a local authority
• A person employed by a local authority and is not the holder of a class, description or grade of employment designated by order under section 161(1)(b) of the Local Government Act 2001
• Employed by the Health Service Executive and at a grade or of a description of employment designated by order of the Minister for Health and Children
• Currently imprisoned for a term longer than 6 months
• A person who has failed pay local authority charges
• A person who has failed to comply with an order of a court to pay money due to a local authority
• A person who has been convicted of fraud or dishonest dealings affecting a local authority, corrupt practice or acting while disqualified

Candidate spending limit

Candidates are allowed to spend a limited amount of money on the local election campaign. This amount varies depending on the population size of the local electorate area.

Candidates must disclose how much they spent to the local authority within 90 days after polling day. The Minister sets the start date of the campaign spending period, which must be between 50 and 60 days before polling day.

Donations

The following rules apply to candidates:

• A candidate may accept no more than €1,000 from a specific donor in a calendar year
• Details of donations over €600 must be given to the local authority
• A candidate who receives a donation over €100 must open and maintain a bank account specifically for their political donations

The following restrictions apply to donations:

• No anonymous donations over €100
• No cash donations over €200
• For corporate donations over €200 the donor must be registered with the Standards in Public Office Commission and evidence that the donation was approved by the corporate body must be provided

Local election posters and signs

The Litter Pollution Act 1997, as amended by the Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2009 allows people to display election posters for a certain period. They can be displayed from the date the Minister appoints the polling day by order, or 30 days before polling day, whichever is shorter. They must be taken down within 7 days after the polling day.

If an election poster is causing a hazard to motorists or pedestrians, you can inform your local authority about these safety concerns.