ENVIRONMENT AND LOCAL Government Minister Phil Hogan has signed the polling order for the local elections which confirms that candidates can start erecting posters from 23 April.
The order formally confirms that voting will take place between 7am and 10pm on Friday, 23 May with a separate polling order at a later date to confirm that the European Parliament elections will also take place on that date.
In addition Hogan has signed an order setting next Tuesday, 25 March as the date after which spending limits will apply for candidates.
Spending limits have been reduced since the 2009 elections – when they were first introduced – so that a candidate can spend a maximum of €13,000, €11,500 or €9,750 depending on the population in the local electoral area.
“Candidates seeking election will also have to comply with new rules on the acceptance of political donations that were introduced in 2012. This includes a reduction in the amount than can be accepted and restrictions on corporate donations,” Hogan said.
Candidates nominated by a political party are deemed to automatically allocate 10 per cent of their spending limit to the party’s national agent.
A party candidate with a limit of €13,000 euro would be deemed to automatically allocate €1,300 for use by the party. Their effective limit would therefore be €11,700 but the 10 per cent figure can be varied upwards or downwards by written agreement between the candidate and national agent.
Candidates and political parties are required to make a spending declaration within 90 days of polling day.
The polling order means that candidates can only erect posters from 23 April, 30 days before the polling date and they are required to remove all posters within seven days of the poll.
People are also reminded to ensure they are registered to vote by going to the Check The Register website. The deadline for registering is 6 May while those who wish to be added to the postal voting register must do so by 26 April.
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