Local elections 2024

Becoming a candidate

A candidate may nominate himself or herself or may, with the candidate's consent, be nominated by a proposer.  A proposer must be registered as a local government elector in the local electoral area of the local authority for which he or she proposes to nominate the candidate (article 14).

(References in parentheses are to the provisions of the Local Elections Regulations 1995 as amended, unless otherwise stated)

The period for receipt of nominations commences at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, 11th May, 2024 and ends at 12:00 noon on Saturday, 18th May, 2024.

Nominations will be received by appointment only with the Deputy Returning Officer, Mr Kieran O'Donnell, within the dates specified above.  To make your appointment or if you have any queries please contact:

Name: Corporate Services Section

Email: kodonnell@clarecoco.ie

Telephone: (065) 6846226

Who is eligible

Eligibility for election to local authority

1. Every Irish citizen and every person ordinarily resident in the State, who has reached the age of 18, who is not subject to any of the disqualifications outlined in paragraph (b) below, is eligible for election:
2. A person is disqualified for election to a local authority if he/she -
   • is a member of the Commission of the European Community, or
   • is a representative in the European Parliament, or
   • is a Judge, Advocate General or Registrar of the Court of Justice of the European Community, or
   • is a member of the Court of Auditors of the European Community, or
   • is a member of Dáil Éireann or Seanad Éireann, or
   • is appointment under the Constitution as a Judge or as the Comptroller and Auditor General, or
   • is a member of the Garda Síochána, or
   • is a wholetime member of the Defence Forces, or
   • is a civil servant who is not by the terms of his or her employment expressly permitted to be a member of a local authority, or
   • is a person employed by a local authority, the Health Service Executive or the Child and Family Agency 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, or
   • is a person employed by the Health Service Executive and is at a grade or of a description of employment designated by order of the Minister for Health and Children, or
   • is undergoing a sentence of imprisonment for any term exceeding 6 months imposed by a court of competent jurisdiction in the State, or
   • fails to pay any sum or any portion of any sum charged or surcharged by an auditor of the accounts of any local authority upon or against that person, or
   • fails to comply with a final judgement, order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, for payment of money due to a local authority, or
   • is convicted of, or has had a conviction confirmed on appeal for, an offence relating to fraudulent or dishonest dealings affecting a local authority or corrupt practice or acting when disqualified.

(Local Government Act 2001, as amened - sections 13 and 13A).

A person in any of the categories listed above is also disqualified from nomination for election (Local Government Act 2001 - section 2(4)).

Candidate nomination process

Nomination commences at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, 11th May, 2024 and ends at 12:00 noon at Saturday, 18th May, 2024.

Nomination paper(s) are available as follows:

• From Customer Services,
  Áras Contae an Chláir,
  New Road,
  Ennis, 
  Co. Clare
  V95 DXP2
  
  
• By phone on 065 6846226
  
  
• By email to kodonnell@clarecoco.ie

Nominations must be on the official form LE1 form [PDF, 1.25MB], as directed by the Minister and a separate nomination paper is required for each local electoral area for which a candidate is nominated.

The completed nomination paper must be delivered to the deputy returning officer in person by the candidate or proposer within the period fixed for the receipt of nominations (ending at 12 noon on Saturday, 18th May, 2024). (articles 17 and 18).

• LE1 Local Elections Nominations Form 2024 [PDF, 1.23MB]

A candidate may include in their nomination paper the name of the political party, registered in the Register of Political Parties, of which they are a candidate, provided a certificate in the specified form authenticating their candidature is produced to the Deputy Returning Officer at the time the nomination paper is delivered.

• Certificate of Political Affiliation [PDF, 800KB]

A candidate who is not a candidate of a registered political party may, if they so wish include the expression "Non-Party" after their name on the nomination paper.  A description such as "Independent" is not permissible.  A candidate is permitted to leave blank the space provided on the nomination paper for the political party.

A non-party candidate at a local election (i.e. who is not in possession of a certificate of political affiliation authenticating the candidature of a candidate on behalf of a political party registered in the Register of Political Parties), must comply with one or other of the following procedures before the expiration of the time for receiving nominations:

(i) the completion of statutory declarations by 15 assentors registered as local government electors in the relevant local electoral area which must be witnessed by a Commissioner for Oaths, a Peace Commissioner, a Notary Public, a member of the Garda Síochána or an official of the registration authority.

• LEIA Statutory Declaration by Assentors 2024 [PDF, 1.23MB]

Or

(ii) the candidate, or someone on his or her behalf, lodging a deposit of €100 with the Deputy Returning Officer.

Methods of payment for lodging a deposit of €100.00 include debit/visa card (during business hours) or cash.

Nominations will be received in advance by appointment only with the Deputy Returning Officer, Mr Kieran O'Donnell, within the dates specified above.  To make your appointment or if you have any queries please contact:

Corporate Service Section
Email: kodonnell@clarecoco.ie
Telephone: 065 6846226

Expenditure

The Local Elections (Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure) Act 1999 provides for an expenditure and donations disclosure regime at local elections.  These guidelines are concerned with the statutory obligations for candidates, national agents, designated persons and persons unconnected to a political party or candidate (third parties) at the forthcoming local elections and are issued pursuant to section 18(6) of the Act.

Spending limits, first introduced for the 2009 local elections, were revised by the Local Government Reform Act 2014.  Since the last local elections in 2019, the spending limits that apply at local elections have been further revised in line with changes in the consumer price index.  The limit depends on the population of the local electoral area, as follows:

Local electoral area population and candidate spending limit:

• Population in excess of 35,000 - €15,3500
• Population between 18,001 and 35,000 - €13,600
• Population of 18,000 or less - €11,500

Candidates nominated by a political party are deemed to automatically allocate 10% of their spending limit to the party's national agent.  For example, a party candidate with a limit of 15,350 euro would be deemed to automatically allocate 1,535 euro for use by the party.  Their effective limit would therefore be 13,815 euro.  The 10% figure can be varied upwards or downwards by written agreement between the candidate and national agent.

Election spending incurred during a period before the election must be reported to the local authority concerned and must be below the specified limit. The date of commencement of the spending period is set out in an order made by the Minister before the election and must commence between 50 and 60 days before polling day and end on polling day.

A written statement of all election expenses (whether paid or not) incurred in relation to a local election must be furnished in person by a candidate to their local authority within 90 days after polling day at that election.  With the election being held on 7 June 2024, the written statement must be submitted on or before 5 September 2024.

An unsuccessful candidate must also provide details of each donation over €600 received, to meet the election expenses.  In addition, an unsuccessful candidate that is required to open a political donations account must submit a statement and certificate in connection with such an account.

Donations

The following rules apply for donations:

• The maximum donation that may be accepted by a member of a local authority or a local election candidate is €1,000;
• The maximum amount that can be accepted as an anonymous donation is €100;
• Details of donations which exceed €600 must be disclosed in a statement made to the local authority;
• A candidate at a local election or a member of a local authority who receives, a monetary donation of more than €100 must open and maintain a political donations account in a financial institution in the State.

Certain donations are restricted:

• It is prohibited to accept a donation from an anonymous source which exceeds €100.
• Donations in cash which exceed €200 are also prohibited.

There are specific rules covering corporate donations which exceed €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.

• Guidelines for Candidates on the Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure, Spending Limits and Political Donation Accounts
• Guidelines for National Agents and designated Persons of Political Parties and Third Parties on the Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure, Spending Limits and Political Donations Accounts

Election poster guidelines

The legislation governing placement of posters at election time is the Litter Pollution Act 1997 as amended by the Electoral (Amendment)(No. 2) Act 2009. The legislation provides that erection of posters is only permitted from the date the order is made by the Minister appointing the polling day or 30 days prior to the date of the poll, whichever is the shorter period.

With arrangements from the 2024 local elections now set, the Minister clarified the time period during which candidates can exhibit election posters.  Candidates can only erect posters from 8th May 2024, which is 30 days before the polling date. There is a requirement for candidates to remove all posters within 7 days of the poll.

Election posters may not be displayed within 50 metres of a polling station. This restriction takes effect 30 minutes before the official commencement of polling and lasts until 30 minutes after the polls have closed.  Posters must include the name and address of the printer also.