Seanad Electoral Records - Conduct of Elections to Seanad Éireann

The legal basis for elections to Seanad Éireann in the university constituencies is Bunreacht na hÉireann, Article 18(4) and the relevant Act is the Seanad Electoral (University Members) Act, 1937, as amended.

Under that Act, the University of Dublin constituency elects three members of Seanad Éireann; the National University of Ireland (NUI) also elects three members of Seanad Éireann.

In accordance with legislation, Seanad Elections take place within 90 days of the dissolution of Dáil Éireann; the Election is strictly a postal vote. Once the government has been dissolved, generally within seven days of this happening, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government will appoint:

• the last day for nomination of candidates.
• the day on which ballot papers are to be issued and posted to electors.
• the day and hour the poll closes.

In the event that more than three candidates are nominated, ballot papers are issued to all graduates registered in the current Register of Electors.

To stand for election in the University of Dublin (DU) constituency, a candidate does not have to be a graduate, but must be nominated in writing by two DU registered electors as proposer and seconder respectively (nomination forms are available at election time from the Seanad Electoral Office) and by eight other DU registered electors of the constituency as ‘assentors’. The nomination process is held in accordance with Seanad Electoral (University Members), Act 1937, S18 and S19.

Every person who is a citizen of Ireland and has been admitted to a degree (other than an honorary degree) by the University of Dublin is entitled to be registered as an elector in the DU register of electors. To download a claim form for the Register of Electors please click here.